Pacquiao, Mayweather to undergo Olympic-type drug test

MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao agreed on all the conditions set by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. including submitting himself to random testing by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for their May 2 (May 3 Manila time) showdown in Las Vegas. 

The USADA random testing has been one of the road blocks in their failed attempts in the past where Pacquiao even sued and reportedly collected around $5 million in a lawsuit filed against Mayweather.

Pacquiao has been submitting himself to random urine and blood testing by the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association since losing a 6th round knockout to Juan Manuel Marquez, who hasn't scored one in their first three fights.  

"We've agreed on the USDA testing and we've agreed to their rules. I believe a lot of this that was spread around [about Pacquiao's reluctance to test] was unfortunate and non-sensical. There's not any issue with Manny or Floyd. They are not taking performance-enhancing drugs," Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said in an interview with LA Times.

Pacquiao quickly agreed to this condition during the negotiation to shut up all the rumors. 

The Olympic-type drug test will be administered unannounced in-and-out of competition blood and/or urine tests at any point through fight night, May 2, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas according to the LA Times report. USADA will use the advanced Carbon Isotope Ratio process in testing for synthetic testosterone while also testing for the energy-boosting EPO and strenght-building human growth hormone. Their tests will all be submitted to the Nevada Commission, which will regulate the fight, and the World Anti-Doping Agency. 

USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygard commended both Pacquiao and Mayweather for their bold move that will have big repercussions if any of them will be found tested positive for PEDs. 

"It's a strong statement of the importance of clean and safe competition to have these two fighters voluntarily agree to have a WADA-level anti-doping program implemented for this fight. We commend them for their stand for clean sport and the message it sends to all those who want to compete clean at the highest levels of all sport," Tygard told LA Times. 

Recently, boxing's chief rival Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was rocked with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stars Jon Jones and Nick Diaz tested positive for PEDs. 

Mayweather first insisted on using the rigid Olympic-type drug testing during his fight against Shane Mosley in 2010 after the first attempt at Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-bout fell off. 

USADA is the agency that also oversees the drug testing programs for all Olympic sports and some mixed martial arts and boxing matches. Under the agency's code, an athlete who will be tested positive calls for a four-year ban from competition which will likely spell the end of their careers for either the 36-yeard old Pacquiao and 38-year old Mayweather.