USADA official tests Pacman for third time

LOS ANGELES – Drawing blood for the third time in four weeks couldn’t slow down Manny Pacquiao from hitting the track Wednesday morning and doing a plyometric workout.

After eight hard hitting rounds of sparring on Tuesday, a medic from the US Anti-Doping Agency paid the Pacman a visit at the Wild Card Gym. This latest drug test comes just after the Nevada State Athletic Commission granted the prize fighter his boxing license.

“Ok naman. Masaya dahil na approve na ang license,” Pacquiao said.

Five years ago, disagreements over Olympic-style drug testing knocked out the mega-bout between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. But now with fight night less than six weeks away, the stakes are getting higher.

In his latest projection, Top Rank Chief Bob Arum told ESPN that the May 2 bout can be worth over $400 million.

“I think in sports history it’s probably going to be one of the biggest events ever,” publicist Fred Sternburg said. “There’s a lot of intangibles that’s based on pay per view buys which, of course, what we don’t know they’re going to be until they actually have them.”

With the money that high, the Pacman still hasn’t backed out on a $5 million guarantee that he will pass his drug test. However, reports say Mayweather did not sign off on that side bet.

“Ako nag suggest yun para na sigurado kung clean sila dalawa. Bakit ba ayaw?” Pacquaio said. “Ok lang yan. Ok lang yan, basta balance — meron ako, meron siya.”

“It’s no problem,” added trainer Freddie Roach. “It used to bother Manny mentally. He’s gotten over it. It doesn’t bother him that much anymore to give blood.”

Under USADA procedures, fighters can be tested randomly for performance enhancing drugs.

According to the USADA medic, when one fighter is tested for performance enhancing drugs, the other fighter also submits their blood and urine samples at around the same time.