New deflection in Mayweather-Pacquiao testing controversy: Fan’s take

Garnering headlines and stoking the fading fire of a potential Mayweather-Pacquiao mega-fight, Top Rank promoter, Bob Arum, just came out with a statement that can only be considered a Grade-A deflection and yet another hurdle that seems more focused on avoidance than compromise.

"We have agreed in the Pacquiao camp to unlimited random testing done by a responsible, neutral organization." Arum told AC/Yahoo. "We don't believe USADA is a neutral organization…When you have a Philippine fighter and an American fighter? Wouldn't it be better if it would be done by the Olympic drug-testing organization?"

The USADA that Arum is referring to is the United States Anti-Doping Agency, "the official anti-doping agency for Olympic, Pan American and Paralympic sport in the United States."

The non-profit organization, almost completely funded through US government grant, works in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the organization that handles all Olympic testing protocol for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). The USADA not only uses the exact same procedures and methodology, but they also report directly to WADA, as well as the International Olympic Committee.

In short, the USADA is the only approved organization to administer Olympic-style random testing within the boundaries of the United States. When WADA wants to conduct testing within the US, they turn to the USADA.

"I don't think anybody's test is as vigorous as the test administered by the Olympic Organization," Arum said in the same interview.

But, the USADA does adhere to the same testing protocol. As a matter of fact, they are the ones who actually do the testing.

Arum's apparent new-found love of random testing can be seen as downright insulting to the intelligence of the fans. He supports Olympic-style testing, except not by the agency that actually does it.

The 79-year-old promoter also stated his mistrust of any blood testing not "done under the auspices of a boxing commission."

"We can arrange for the Olympic Organization to handle the test under the supervision of the Athletic commission respective of the state where the fight is going to be held," Arum declared. "USADA tests these two fighters and the Nevada State Athletic Commission is responsible for the fight. So, if one of the fighters is tested dirty, what can happen? I mean, nobody can sort this thing out. This is absolutely absurd!"

So, in essence, Arum is willing to compromise on Olympic-style testing for the fight, except not by the agency that would actually be able to handle it and only under the supervision of a boxing commission not really familiar with testing protocol and not even in favor of utilizing it within their own jurisdiction.

More and more, it looks as though the mega-fight between boxing's two biggest draws will forever be held up by rhetoric, half-truths, and empty words. And Bob Arum, one of the key figures in this mess, just seems content on adding more twists and turns to the already jumbled maze.

Paul Magno was a licensed official in the state of Michoacan, Mexico and a close follower of the sport for more than thirty years. His work can also be found on Fox Sports and The Boxing Tribune. In the past, Paul has done work for Inside Fights, The Queensberry Rules and Eastside Boxing.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com