Donaire desididong labanan si ‘Rigo’: May drug test man o wala

MANILA, Philippines - Inalis ni WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. ang pa-ngambang aatras siya sa laban nila ni WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux dahil hindi pa malinaw kung susunod ang Cuban champion sa napag-usapan tungkol sa drug testing.

Sa isang statement na ginawa ni Donaire kahapon, sinabi niyang hindi siya aatras sa unification title fight na handog ng Top Rank at gagawin sa Abril 13 sa Radio City Music Hall sa New York.

Inis si Donaire dahil hindi umano ibinibigay ng kampo ng walang talong WBA champion ang detalye para sa drug testing sa VADA (Voluntary Anti Doping Association).

“The requirement of drug testing set forth in the negotiations for the fight with Rigondeaux was not met by the deadline of the press confe-rence as agreed upon and I have the option of canceling the fight at this point,” wika ni Donaire.

Pero isinaalang-alang niya ang kapakanan ng mga tagahanga, lalo na ang mga nakabili na ng tiket ng laban kaya’t hindi siya aatras sa bakbakan.

“I have decided to follow through with the fight in April out of respect for HBO and my fans who have brought tickets and travel. I will turn in my signed bout contract to Top Rank on Monday,” dagdag ni Filipino Flash.

Pero tiniyak niyang ito na ang huling pagkakataon na may ganitong kontro-bersya na magaganap sa kanyang hangarin na isailalim ang katunggaling boksingero sa drug test para tiyaking malinis ang kanilang magiging laban.

“I have decided from this point on, I will MANDATE my opponents to enroll in drug testing before I agree to any fights. Performance Enhancing Drugs have become rampant in sports and needs to be addressed,” paliwanag nito.

Nilinaw naman ng kampo ni Rigondeaux na hindi nila babaliin ang usaping pinasok hinggil sa pagtiyak na walang ipinagbabawal na droga na gagamitin sa pagsasanay ng dalawang boksingero.

“We are focused on this fight against Nonito Donaire and we have no other purpose than that. Guillermo Rigondeaux already signed, in front of Bob Arum and everyone else, all of these VADA documents and met the requirements of this organization,” wika ni Boris Arencibia, CEO ng Caribe Promotions na co-promoter ni Rigondeaux.