The top leader in the fight against doping in the United States reported that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will face more severe punishments if they test positive for prohibited substances in a pre-fight control. The penalties exceed the $ 5 million amount proposed by a Pacquiao adviser.
Travis Tygart, executive director of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), said a positive would wreck the May 2 fight, in which the purse must exceed $ 200 million. It would also leave the fighter who tested positive exposed to a four-year suspension, which would basically end his career.
“If a positive test is given before the fight, the penalty for the offending boxer will far exceed 5 million,” Tygart said on Friday.
Both boxers agreed to have USADA oversee doping controls for the bout that is expected to be the most lucrative in boxing history.
Mayweather will pocket at least $ 120 million, while Pacquiao will receive $ 80 million for one of the most anticipated fights in recent times.
Michael Koncz was Pacquiao’s adviser who raised a 5 million penalty for a positive, which was rejected by Mayweather’s attorneys.
The matter was not settled until the night before the press conference in Los Angeles earlier this month, when the contracts were signed.
Tygart said that if someone tests positive for a prohibited substance, the results will be released immediately to the Nevada Athletic Commission. Both the commission and USADA will decide in unison the corresponding sanction.
“They accepted a process that is pretty well explained,” Tygart said. “It is a contract that will be applied against them.”
The USADA is guided by the parameters of the World Anti-Doping Code, which establishes what are the illegal substances and the penalties that must be imposed for positive results. If one of the boxers tests positive for steroids or human growth hormone, they are exposed to four-year suspensions from all competition, and that would be endorsed by all the governing associations of professional boxing.
The issue of controls was one of the brakes since negotiations for a possible fight began five years ago. Mayweather’s representatives insisted on blood and urine tests for both boxers. On repeated occasions, Mayweather indicated that Pacquiao’s resistance to comprehensive controls made it difficult to negotiate the fight.
Pacquiao sued Mayweather for defamation, saying he used doping substances, which was settled out of court.