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Agence France-Presse

Floyd Mayweather hit back at accusations he violated anti-doping rules after it emerged he had received an injection of vitamins and minerals on the eve of his superfight with Manny Pacquiao in May.
A report on the SB Nation sports news website said Mayweather had broken World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) regulations by having an IV infusion at his home in Las Vegas on May 1.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) leapt to Mayweather’s defence on Thursday, stating that the injection was legal and that reports to the contrary were “false.”

“I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada and Usada, the gold standard of drug testing,” Mayweather said in a statement.
“I am very proud to be a clean athlete and will continue to champion the cause,” added Mayweather, who is chasing history in Las Vegas on Saturday when he meets Andre Berto in a bid to match Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.
Usada said reports on the controversy had contained a “multitude of errors” and were “riddled with significant inaccuracies and misrepresentations.”

“We believe it is important to immediately correct the false suggestion that Floyd Mayweather violated the rules by receiving an IV infusion of saline and vitamins,” said Usada, the powerful anti-doping watchdog which played a leading role in bringing down disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.
Usada said Mayweather had applied for and was granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) by the agency for the IV infusion, in accordance with regulations set down by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
“Mr Mayweather’s use of the IV was not prohibited under the NSAC rules at that time and would not be a violation of the NSAC rules today,” the statement said.

It said Mayweather, a voluntary participant in the Usada program, had formally applied for the TUE after the infusion in order to remain in compliance Usada rules.
The agency said although the application was not approved until after the fight, Mayweather “did disclose the infusion to Usada in advance of the IV being administered to him.”
“Furthermore, once the TUE was granted, the NSAC and Mr Pacquiao were immediately notified even though the practice is not prohibited under NSAC rules,” it added.

The SB Nation report said Mayweather’s infusion had come to light after Usada agents visited the boxer at his Las Vegas home on Friday May 1, the day before the Pacquiao fight, to conduct a random unannounced test.
The report said the IV consisted of two separate mixes of saline and vitamins which had been administered to address dehydration concerns.
It added that while the substances in question were not prohibited under Wada rules, administering them intravenously was a breach of Wada regulations.
I am very proud to be a clean athlete and will continue to champion the cause
Floyd Mayweather
Wada guidelines say IV infusions are prohibited because they can be used to mask the use of performance enhancing drugs, increase plasma volume levels and distort the values of an athlete’s biological passport.
However a Usada source later said that because Mayweather obtained a TUE, no offence had been committed under Wada rules.
The SB Nation report also contained broader criticisms of the agency’s record in boxing.
Usada defended its record as it condemned reports on the Mayweather case.
“Over the past six years Usada has conducted anti-doping programs for over 45 fights in the sport of professional boxing, and each of those programs has been conducted in accordance with the Wada Code and the International Standards,” it said.
“As a result, every athlete who has participated in one of our programs has voluntarily agreed to abide by the rules of the Wada Code and willingly subjected themselves to substantially more stringent testing protocols than they otherwise would have been subject to.”
 


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Floyd Mayweather applied for a therapeutic use exemption for his IV - after taking it. Photo: Reuters

Floyd Mayweather denied breaking doping rules before the Pacquiao fight. Photo: USA Today Sports

Floyd Mayweather celebrates beating Manny Pacquiao. Photo: AP

Manny Pacquiao in training for a rematch. Photo: EPA

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather throw down. Photo: EPA

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Manny Pacquiao is aiming for a 2016 ring return. Photos: EPA

Filipino boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao poses for a photograph during a welcoming parade in Manila. 

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Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather embrace in the ring at the finish. Photo: AP


Mayweather lands with a right. Photo: Reuters

And the action begins: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao engage. Photo: AFP 

Manny Pacquiao enters the ring. Photo: Reuters

Floyd Mayweather in the ring. Photo: AFP

Vasyl Lomachenko hits Gamalier Rodriguez  during their WBO featherweight championship bout un the undercard in Las Vegas. Photo: USA Today


The boxing ring in the MGM Grand Garden Arena where the fight is to take place. Photo: USA Today

Fans gather at a plaza in Marikina City in suburban Manila on Sunday morning for the open-air live telecast of the fight. Photo: AFP 

Boxing fan Daniel de Jesus poses in boxing gloves decorated with photos of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather which he bought at a merchandise store in Las Vegas. Photo: AFP

A fan poses with  models at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Photo: AFP

 Donald Trump in attendance before the big fight. Photo: USA Today


Actor Jake Gyllenhaal with director Antoine Fuqua and actor Denzel Washington. Photo: AP


Actor Mark Wahlberg heads for his seat. Photo: AFP 


Paris Hilton enters the arena. Photo: AP

Pacquiao defends. Photo: AFP

Pacquiao gets in close. Photo: AP

Mayweather throws a right. Photo: AFP

The pair exchange blows. Photo: AFP

Mayweather on the defensive. Photo: AFP

Mayweather bellows after the fight. Photo: AP

Pacquiao raises his arms after the final bell. Photo: AP

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A two-layer cake featuring fondant caricatures of boxers Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao in a boxing ring is shown to the media at a bakery in Manila, Philippines. Photo: Reuters  

Floyd Mayweather Jnr (R) and Manny Pacquiao face off during their official weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: AFP

Floyd Mayweather gestures while standing on the scale for his weigh-in. Photo: AFP 

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Floyd Mayweather Jnr trains in Las Vegas ahead of his bout. Photo: AFP

Floyd "Money" Mayweather does not care what anyone thinks about his last fight. Photo: AFP 

Andre Berto, former two-time welterweight world champion, uses the jump rope in training. Photo: AFP 

Sport

Boxing

Boxer took vitamins through intravenous drip, a violation of Wada rules, but Usada say he did no wrong


Floyd Mayweather hit back at accusations he violated anti-doping rules after it emerged he had received an injection of vitamins and minerals on the eve of his superfight with Manny Pacquiao in May


Did Mayweather break doping rules before beating Pacquiao? American hits back at ‘false’ claims

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Boxer took vitamins through intravenous drip, a violation of Wada rules, but Usada say he did no wrong

Boxer took vitamins through intravenous drip, a violation of Wada rules, but Usada say he did no wrong