Manny, Sugar come 'clean'

MANILA, Philippines - The Nevada State Athletic Commission has declared Manny Pacquiao safe, free and negative of any illegal substance following post-fight drug tests for his recent bout against Shane Mosley.

Keith Kizer, NSAC executive director, told the Las Vegas Review Journal yesterday that Pacquiao and Mosley, who figured in a 12-round bout at the MGM Grand last May 7, are both clean.

The report said Pacquiao and Mosley “tested negative of steroids, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), recreational drugs and diuretics” after they submitted to the tests right after the fight.

The NSAC announcement should douse cold water on the latest charges and accusations that Pacquiao, the only fighter to win eight world titles in as many weight divisions, is into steroids.

The Las Vegas Review Journal also reported that pay-per-view sales for Pacquiao’s latest fight could generate as many as 1.3 to 1.4 million buys. The final tally should come out this week.

“We’re very happy with CBS and Showtime. They were a great partner, and this is the biggest pay-per-view result in Manny’s career,” promoter Bob Arum was quoted as saying.

Pacquiao’s previous high in the PPV scales was at 1.25 million for his sensational knockout win over Oscar De La Hoya in 2008.

“It was a very successful promotion. Manny doing 1.3, 1.4 million buys is outstanding,” Arum said, adding that the $8.8 million in live gate receipts last week was another outstanding figure.

Days after his lopsided victory over Mosley, Pacquiao faced rumors of his alleged use of steroids, stemming from an Internet report citing one of Pacquiao’s Filipino sparring partners.

The unidentified sparring partner claimed that he injected Pacquiao with steroids before the 32-year-old welterweight champion faced dela Hoya.

But Pacquiao simply laughed it off, saying he couldn’t even remember him employing a Filipino as his sparring partner in recent years.

“My lawyers will look into this. So, if they have any evidence, they should present them. My conscience is clear that only hard work has led to my success,” he said.

Pacquiao said if the situation warrants, he would file another case against those spreading the latest rumors.

Pacquiao has faced similar accusations of steroids use before, and has taken Floyd Mayweather Jr., his father, his uncle, and his promoters from Golden Boy to court.

“Hindi totoo ‘yan (It’s not true),” said Pacquiao.

Pacquiao has never failed a drug test even if his camp has turned down Mayweather’s demand for an Olympic-style drug testing so their superfight could finally take place.

Mayweather wants random blood testing in the months, weeks, days or even hours before the fight, but Pacquiao wouldn’s agree, saying blood tests so close to the fight makes him feel weak.

Pacquiao has agreed to blood tests 14 days before the fight, and immediately after, saying that if he was using PEDs, then it should remain in his system and therefore easily detected right after the fight.