Floyd Mayweather Reportedly used Banned IV Fluids Before Record-Breaking Manny Pacquiao Fight

Floyd Mayweather Jr., the undefeated champion, reportedly received banned intravenous fluids prior to his record-breaking fight against Manny Pacquiao back on May 2.

According to a report by SB Nation, the fluids, which included saline and vitamins, are not banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency guidelines, which the United States Anti-Doping Agency follows. However, the method in which Mayweather received the fluids, via IV, was against the rules.

The report continued, stating that Mayweather's team informed the collection agents responsible for conducting random drug testing that the fighter had received a 250-milliliter mixture of saline and multivitamins as well as a 500-milliliter mixture of saline and Vitamin C to rehydrate his body.

The WADA rules do not allow athletes to receive more than 50 milliliters of IV fluids per six hours unless the fluids are "legitimately received in the course of hospital admissions, surgical procedures, or clinical investigations." Receiving large amounts of fluids is banned because they can "dilute or mask the presence of another substance."

The USADA notified the Nevada State Athletic Commission about the IV fluids on May 21. They stated that Mayweather had received therapeutic-use exception (TUE), which is allowed in the contract regarding drug testing that both fighters signed. The commission also found out, after pressing the USADA that Mayweather applied for the TUE on May 19, more than two weeks after his fight.

The USADA, however, does not have the authority to grant an exemption, Bob Bennett, the executive director of the commission stated. Only the commission can grant a player exemption.

"The TUE for Mayweather's IV -- and the IV was administered at Floyd's house, not in a medical facility, and wasn't brought to our attention at the time -- was totally unacceptable," Bennett said in the report. "I've made it clear to [USADA CEO] Travis Tygart that this should not happen again. We have the sole authority to grant any and all TUEs in the state of Nevada. USADA is a drug-testing agency. USADA should not be granting waivers and exemptions. Not in this state. We are less than pleased that USADA acted the way it did."

The report of the banned IV fluids was published during the last news conference held by Mayweather and his opponent, Andre Berto. Mayweather will be fighting Berto on Saturday night at the MGM Grand. The fight is supposed to be the last fight of Mayweather's 19-year-long career.