Yesterday, it was revealed that Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios will undergo random blood and urine testing for their November 23 clash at the Venetian in Macau, China. According to Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz, the US Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] was requested as the organization to handle that testing protocol. "Yes, I can confirm that we requested the USADA testing. We've never had anything to hide nor do we have anything to hide now," Koncz would tell Rick Reeno of BoxingScene.com. According to sources, however, it looks like it will be VADA [Voluntary Anti-Doping Association], not USADA, getting the assignment.
"Bob [Arum] doesn't really want to use USADA because he's not keen on their close relationship with Golden Boy Promotions," our source explained. "It's actually Manny that wants it [drug testing for the fight], and since Bob doesn't want to piss him off, I was told they contracted VADA to handle the testing for this fight." The decision to use VADA instead of USADA makes a lot more sense considering that the fight is taking place in China, where technically the China Anti-Doping Agency [CHINADA] would be the National Anti-Doping Organization responsible for enforcing the guidelines and protocols of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
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