VADA BLASTS ARIZA'S FALSE ACCUSATIONS ON PACQUIAO'S DRUG TESTS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Oct 2013
Dr Goodman.
The head of the Voluntary Anti Doping Agency (VADA) has blasted "Fighter of the Decade" Manny Pacquiao's former strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza for making false accusations that Pacquiao hasn't undergone any random drug tests so far while his opponent Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios has been tested twice in the run up to their WBO International welterweight title fight in Macau on November 24.
Dr. Margaret Goodman, who was a former ringside physician and head of the Nevada State Athletic Commission Medical Advisory Board, reacted angrily to the statement of Ariza who was fired by celebrated Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach because he was causing dissension within the Pacquiao camp and joined the camp of Rios.
Ariza had claimed "VADA just confirmed that they have yet to test Manny Pacquiao and have no plans to test him until he arrives in Macau."
The internationally respected VADA head told Jake Donovan of boxingscene.com that Ariza's statement was "a blatantly false and unsubstantiated story. Pacquiao and Rios have been tested by VADA and any further information should be obtained from the fighters respective camps, Top Rank and the Commission in Macau."
Trainer Freddie Roach as well as Arum told the Manila Standard in General Santos City on Wednesday that Pacquiao had been tested not once but twice, with the second test done on Wednesday.
Roach said they were prepared "to undergo random drugs tests every day if they wanted" insisting that Pacquiao never had any reason to hide anything.
Following a couple of comments in the social media inquiring why no Philippine media representatives including this reporter who covered Pacquiao's training for several days were not present when the test was done, Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz said "nobody knew because these are random drug tests and they don't inform us in advance because then they won't be random." He said Pacquiao's urine and blood samples were taken at his home.
For the record the media, including the Manila Standard and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN cover Pacquiao's early morning roadwork and his afternoon workouts at the Pacman Wild Card Gym in GenSan and don't bother him the rest of the day.
Meantime, former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa told us that Roach was looking for two more sparring partners who could imitate the aggressive, come forward style of Rios after sending undefeated Ghana welterweight Fredrick Lawson packing.
Roach is very pleased with young British light middleweight Liam Vaughan who has engaged Pacquiao in some solid exchanges in sparring as well as Filipino welterweight Dan Nazareno who was described by Roach as a tough kid who is game and ready to engage with Pacquiao.
Because of their impressive showing in sparring, Vaughan and Nazareno have been given a spot on the "Clash in Cotai" undercard.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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