Manny Pacquiao faces a potential lawsuit after failing to disclose
a shoulder injury before his defeat by Floyd Mayweather.
Pacquiao will spend up to a year on the sidelines as he prepares
to undergo surgery on his torn rotator cuff, an injury he suffered in training.
But the Filipino star could also be guilty of perjury after
signing a pre-fight questionnaire without revealing he was hurt.
Sportsmail has
obtained a copy of the document and although it shows that Pacquiao was taking
several painkillers, the word ‘No’ is marked next to the question: ‘Have you
had any injury to your shoulders, elbows, or hands that needed evaluation or
examination?’
By signing the document, both Pacquiao and his adviser Michael
Koncz ‘hereby swear under penalty of perjury, that the above information is
true and correct to the best of my knowledge’.
Under chapter 199 of the law of Nevada (NRS), ‘A person who, in a
declaration made under penalty of perjury, makes a wilful and false statement
in a matter material to the issue or point in question is guilty of perjury or
subornation of perjury, as the case may be, which is a category D felony and
shall be punished.’
The punishment for a crime of this nature is between one and four
years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 (£3,305).
Pacquiao could also be fined or banned by the Nevada State
Athletic Commission.
The commission' chairman Francisco Aguilar said that the state
attorney general's office will look at why the injury was not declared.
'We will gather all the facts and follow the circumstances,' he
said. 'At some point we will have some discussion. As a licensee of the
commission you want to make sure fighters are giving you up-to-date
information.
‘The medications he was taking were disclosed on his medical
questionnaire, but not the actual injury.
'This isn't our first fight. This is our business. There is a
process, and when you try to screw with the process, it's not going to work for
you.'
Koncz told the New York Times 'Number one, Manny didn't check the box.
I checked it. It was just an inadvertent mistake. If I was trying to hide
anything, would I have listed all the medications on the sheet that he intended
to use? We weren't trying to hide anything. I just don't think I read the
questionnaire correctly. see below document after this cut....
'I’m going to take full responsibility for what happened. The wrong box was checked. But I think part of the responsibility also lies with the commission. Wouldn't you ask a question about all these medications (on the questionnaire)?
'The bottom line is that we weren't trying to hide anything. If we
had wanted to, we could have done the injection at the hotel before the fight
and nobody would have known but we didn't want to hide anything.'
The 36-year-old's physician, Dr Neal ElAttrache told ESPN.com:
'Once you know he has a tear that's not going to heal on its own, then the
decision for an active person is you want to try to fix this before it gets
bigger.
'If all goes as expected with the surgery and the rehab is
successful, Manny could be back training in about six months.
'At that point, he will be regaining strength and endurance, and
competition is reasonable within nine months to a year. But this is a severe
enough tear that it won't heal without being repaired.'
Earlier on Monday, his team expressed their disappointment that
the boxer was not allowed to continue his treatment in the dressing room.
A joint statement issued by promoters Top Rank Boxing read:
'During training, Manny Pacquiao suffered a right shoulder injury.
'Manny went to see world-class doctors, partners in the
prestigious Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, who performed tests and, in
consultation with Manny, his promoter, and his advisors, concluded that with
short rest, treatments, and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2,
step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather.
'Manny's advisors notified the United States Anti-Doping Agency
(USADA) of the shoulder injury and the treatments being proposed by the doctors
during training and on fight night.
'USADA spoke to Manny's doctors twice, investigated, and confirmed
in writing that the proposed treatments, if used, were completely allowed. The
medication approved for fight night was a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
(Toradol).
'Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100 per cent. This is boxing, injuries happen, and Manny is a warrior.
'Again, in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors,
Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his
pre-fight treatment. That specific treatment had been approved by USADA in
writing at least five days before the fight.
'On his pre-fight medical form filled out earlier in the week,
Manny's advisors listed the medications that Manny used in training and the
medications that might be used on fight night.
'A few hours before he was expected to step in the ring, when
Manny's doctors began the process, the Nevada Commission stopped the treatment
because it said it was unaware of Manny's shoulder injury.
'This was disappointing to Team Pacquiao since they had disclosed
the injury and treatment to USADA, USADA approved the treatments, and Manny had
listed the medication on his pre-fight medical form.
'Also, USADA had provided a copy of its contract with the fighters
to the Commission. An hour before the fight, Manny's advisors asked the
Commission to reconsider and the director of USADA advised the Commission that
USADA had approved the fight-night treatment, but the Commission denied the
request.
'With the advice of his doctors, Manny still decided to proceed
with the fight. His shoulder wasn't perfect but it had improved in training
camp.
'However, as Manny has said multiple times, he makes no excuses.
Manny gave it his best.'
But USADA's Travis Tygart said the agency was ‘only a third party
to the fight, charged only with testing the fighters for banned substances in
training and the night of the bout.’
He said they had no medical information or any copy of an MRI scan
or other documents.
‘It was not an anti-doping issue,’ Tygart told AP. ‘The real
question is why his camp checked 'no' on the disclosure.
‘Either they made a terrible mistake not to follow the rules, or
they were trying not to give information to the other side. I'm not sure there's
a middle ground.’


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