A Thai national, who was at the corner of Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym during his WBO title match against Donnie Nietes last Sunday night at Waterfront Lahug, confirmed in a post-fight interview that the erstwhile unbeaten Thai fighter indeed used Ammonia to help revive him in the crucial moments of the 12-round battle.
Ammonia is a compound that is normally encountered as a gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is being used sometimes to help an unconscious person, like those who fainted, regain his senses.
In a report by philboxing.com, “the Thai national was shown the small bottle confiscated by Filipino trainer Juanito Ablaca from the Thai’s corner after the fight, and confirmed that indeed, it was Ammonia.”
Nietes won by unanimous decision, but was clearly catching up his breath, while the Thai looked refreshed and fully-charged round after round.
In a separate interview by philboxing.com, GAB physician Jose Unabia divulged that the post-fight urine test he conducted on Pornsawan was positive for Ephedrine, a substance found in a highly-regulated substance. Unabia surmised said it could have been instigated by the use of Ammonia.
Unabia stressed that the finding on Pornsawan is “not yet conclusive,” but should lead to some revelations later.
WBO Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo has immediately issued a statement, saying that Ammonia is illegal in any fight. He is set to confer with the WBO on what action they are going to make next.