This statement was released to Doghouse Boxing by Team Nonito Donaire. Donaire: "The requirements of drug testing set forth in the negotiations for the fight with Rigondeaux was not met by the deadline of the press conference as agreed upon and I have the option of canceling the fight at this point.
I have decided to follow through with the fight in April out of respect for HBO and my fans who have bought tickets and travel. I will turn in my signed bout contract into Top Rank on Monday. My manager, Cameron Dunkin, delayed submittal because of the fear that the other team would procrastinate complete enrollment. I did not expect it would be this hard to enforce drug testing on my opponent.
In light of this and in addition to the performance enhancing scandals of Lance Armstrong to Alex Rodriguez and the 20 MLB players, I have decided from this point on, I will MANDATE my opponents to enroll in drug testing before I agree to any fights. Performance Enhancing Drugs have become rampant in sports and needs to be addressed.
I want to clarify that I am not accusing Rigondeaux of taking performance enhancing drugs but do not agree with the amount of time and wasted effort it took to secure drug testing that he previously agreed to. I am disappointed that instead of jumping at the opportunity to make this a fight remembered as one that is trying to change the drug testing game, it turned into one that spent more time slinging insults.
Despite it all, I still stand for random 24/7/365 blood & urine testing and believe more clean athletes will volunteer to set a new standard in sports and prove you can be the best without drugs."
