Pacquiao, Rios undergo drug tests

CEBU, Philippines - Filipino ring star Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios have been tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), the organization's founder Margaret Goodman confirmed in a report by Lem Satterfield of ringtv.com yesterday.

Goodman said the two fighters have been randomly tested by VADA as stipulated in the contract for their highly-anticipated welterweight showdown scheduled on November 24 at the Cotai Arena of the sprawling Venetian Resort and Casino in Macau, China.

She, however, declined to provide details on the results.

"I confirm that both fighters have been tested by VADA. The results that we get go directly to the fighter, or to whomever he designates from his camp. They go to the promoter, which is obviously Top Rank, the China Commission, and it goes to the Association of Boxing Commissions," said Goodman in the same internet report.

"So we don't release results to the public. The fighter can release results to the public at any time. Any other details regarding testing or results will have to come directly from the fighters' camps, the promoter, the ABC or the China commission," she added.

Top Rank has commissioned VADA  for the third time, having employed the organization in March for WBO welterweight champion Tim Bradley's victory over Ruslan Provodnikov, as well as April's unanimous decision by RING, WBA and WBO title-holder Guillermo Rigondeaux over Nonito Donaire. — EBV (FREEMAN)