Mayweather 'broke rules' before Pacquiao fight

Floyd Mayweather did not follow the rules correctly when seeking approval for an intravenous drip before his victory over Manny Pacquiao, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) says.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) gave retrospective permission after Mayweather had the drip of saline and vitamins on the eve of his May 2 fight.

But the NSAC says only it could approve the drip, and not Usada.

Pacquiao wants a rematch, according to the AFP news agency.

Usada said it granted unbeaten American Mayweather, 38, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the infusion, in accordance with NSAC regulations. But NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told BBC Sport: "Anyone should know worldwide, if you fight in the state of Nevada we are the sole authority for approving a TUE.

"Usada has been known historically as the premier performance-enhancing drugs-testing organisation and they have an outstanding record. But they do not have the authority to authorise a TUE to a fighter in the state of Nevada."

Mayweather's drip, administered to combat dehydration after a tough training session, had already attracted controversy. A report claimed he received favourable treatment from Usada in being given permission to have it. It said, although the substances in question were not banned, an IV drip "can dilute or mask the presence of another substance that is already in the recipient's system".

Usada said the report was "riddled with significant inaccuracies and misrepresentations", while Mayweather highlighted his own anti-dopingstance. "I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada and Usada, the gold standard of drug-testing," he said.

"Let's not forget that I was the one six years ago who insisted one levating the level of drug-testing for all my fights."

Bennett explained the process of successfully obtaining a TUE, adding that it was very rare for one to be granted so close to a fight. "The process is you go online and you submit an application with supportive evidence from your doctor. Upon our receiving it, we give the application to our doctor. After his review we will determine if a TUE is approved.

"We are very meticulous, we look a each TUE very thoroughly before our doctors make a final decision. We want to do all this for the health and safety of the fighter.

"I don't recall a time when we have authorised a pre-fight TUE for an intravenous drip. I'm not saying it hasn't ever happened, but I don't recall it."

(bbcsport)