Manny Pacquiao Issues Denial Statement Regarding Rumor of Steroid Injection

Manny Pacquiao has issued a statement in response to a report alleging his steroid use. The report was given credibility when it was shared on twitter by boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley Thursday.

The report first appeared on May 3rd on a gambling website and it says a former sparring partner of Pacquiao used to inject Manny with steroids. The report alleges that Pacquiao began using steroids in the lead up to his fight with Oscar De La Hoya because he needed to overcome the size difference between the men. They say the former sparring partner issued the interview in a “top secret location” in Las Vegas. As if that Austin Powers image doesn’t give you enough reason to laugh, the fact that there’s no real source to the report should crack you up.

Anyway, nothing would have happened with this “report” if Shane Mosley hadn’t made something of it. Think about it — this “report” was published on May 3rd yet nobody had heard about it until Mosley tweeted it. Mosley wrote Thursday:

“Pacquiao ex-sparring partner came out a couple days ago stating that he would inject him w steroids – since Ricky fight look that up … These are not my words it comes from a article And his sparring partner but if it is true!!!! Than what do you say please google”

Then Mosley added that Pacquiao hit him harder than he had been hit his entire career. Floyd Mayweather Jr. caught wind of his report and he encouraged his nearly 1.2 million followers on twitter to go read it. The report seems so phony I won’t bother linking to it. But after Mosley and Floyd started to spread the report, Pacquiao’s camp decided to respond by issuing a statement:

An anonymous post on an internet forum claims an unidentified former Filipino sparring partner injected me with steroids before my fight with Oscar de la Hoya and in subsequent fights. This is completely false, totally fabricated, and, not surprisingly, leveled by someone who will not even identify himself. I did not even have a Filipino sparring partner during my training for the fight against De La Hoya or for any fight since then.

I have never taken steroids, HGH, or any banned performance-enhancing drug. Period. My success in the ring is due to hard work, belief in God, and the support of my fans. Like every boxer, I am required to take drug tests in connection with every professional fight in the United States. I have passed every one, including my fight against De la Hoya and my most recent victory against Shane Mosley.

I will fight to protect my hard-earned good name and reputation.

Steve Kim from Max Boxing further debunks the “report” saying on twitter “Just spoke with Freddie Roach, he said laughing,’We’ve never had a Filipino in our gym big enough to spar with Manny.”

Look, I still have my doubts about Manny’s career path, specifically how he was able to step up from 107 to 150 pounds and gain power. I also wonder why Pacquiao wouldn’t follow the WADA-style drug testing program for the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight if he had nothing to hide. But even though I have my suspicions, this “report” won’t do anything to enhance any questions I have, and it shouldn’t for anyone else either.

And by the way, if Shane Mosley wants to point to anyone’s PED usage, he should look at himself first. And if he had questions about Pacquiao’s usage, why didn’t he demand WADA-style testing like he had for his Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight? Oh I forgot, it’s because Shane just wanted to cash in on a huge paycheck and didn’t want to jeopardize his ability to make money.

Shane, if you had any questions or suspicions, you should have voiced them before the fight like a man, not afterwards. Isn’t there a saying about not biting the hand that feeds you?