Trainers say fighters grow from work, not doping
Jim Slater
Trainers for Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez say hard work and
fitness, not performance-enhancing drugs, have allowed their fights to
add muscle and power as they move up in weight classes.
Doping has been an issue for both fighters in Saturday's welterweight
fight between Filipino icon Pacquiao, with world titles in a record
eight weight classes, and Mexico's Marquez, who seeks a world crown in
his fourth division. Unbeaten US star Floyd Mayweather failed to make a
deal for a megafight with Pacquiao in part because he wanted more
extensive blood tests than usual, issuing taunts that prompted "PacMan"
to file a slander lawsuit.
Twitter notes
Marquez's bulking up for the fight came under greater scrutiny after
Twitter notes from Victor Conte, the central figure in the BALCO steroid
scandal, revealed that Marquez's strength and conditioning coach is
Angel Heredia.
Heredia admitted providing performance-enhancing substances to Trevor
Graham, the former coach of disgraced dope cheats Marion Jones and Tim
Montgomery as well as other former US athletics stars.
"There are different ways to get a fighter very strong. We've done it
the right way," Ignacio Beristain, Marquez's trainer, said through a
translator. "I don't see why somebody should doubt we have done it the
right way."
Marquez denies his bigger bulk has come through banned substances and
has said he will take random blood or urine tests to prove he is not a
dope cheat.
Preparation
"I have done a clean preparation for this fight like always," Marquez
said through a translator. "I will take any test any time. That's why
anti-doping exams exist.
"It's a shame all the work I've done has been trashed." Beristain
said Thursday that his man received no help from banned substances, but
was aided by nutrition and technique guidance from Heredia.
"I'm grateful for what he did with my fighter. I got a great guy who
is strong," Beristain said.
"Juan would never do anything wrong. If he came to Juan with
something, I know he wouldn't take it. I know Juan well enough to know
that. AFP |
