Floyd "Money" Mayweather, the best pound-for-pound professional boxer in the world today, has dismissed allegations brought out by a report which claimed that the American violated anti-doping rules prior to his big fight against Manny Pacquiao in May this year at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
American sports network SB Nation reported on Wednesday that the fighter, who is slated to face Andre Berto this Saturday in Las Vegas, was administered vitamins and minerals via IV prior to his fight against Pacquiao, and the move violated the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules.
It also stated that the move was duly supported by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
However, Mayweather, with the backing from USADA, has stated that there was never any doping violation undertaken by him in any of the 48 previous fights in his career, and insisted that he is "proud to be a clean athlete".
"I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada [State Athletic Commission] and USADA, the gold standard of drug testing," Mayweather said in a statement.
"Let's not forget that I was the one six years ago who insisted on elevating the level of drug testing for all my fights. I am very proud to be a clean athlete and will continue to champion the cause."
USADA also brought out a statement saying that it was totally "absurd" on the part of some reports to label such allegations on the boxer.
"Although the articles in question contain a multitude of errors, all of which will be addressed at the appropriate time, we believe it is important to immediately correct the record regarding the false suggestion that Floyd Mayweather violated the rules by receiving an IV infusion of saline and vitamins," the USADA statement read.
"We believe it is important to immediately correct the false suggestion that Floyd Mayweather violated the rules by receiving an IV infusion of saline and vitamins. It is simply absurd to suggest that we would ever compromise our integrity for any sport or athlete.''
Mayweather will look to equal Rocky Marciano's record of 49-0 in the boxing ring, when he fights Berto this Saturday.
