Star boxer Ryan Garcia tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Ostarine the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney last month, per a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association letter sent to all parties Wednesday and obtained by ESPN.
The samples were taken prior to the fight, but the results weren’t known until later.
Garcia has 10 days to request that his B-sample be tested. Garcia’s A-sample also screened positive for 19-Norandrosterone, but its presence is unconfirmed at this time.
Ryan Garcia tested positive for a banned PED leading up to the Devin Haney fight pic.twitter.com/UoXGkqpLVS
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) May 2, 2024
“Everybody knows that I don’t cheat,” Never taken a steroid … I don’t even know where to get steroids. … I barely take supplements. Big lies, I beat his ass.”
Garcia, 25, floored Haney three times during the majority decision victory, but that result now stands to be overturned unless the B-sample returns negative, which is rare.
Garcia also missed weight ahead of the fight, registering 143.2 pounds for the WBC 140-pound title fight. Haney, 25, remained the junior welterweight champion even in defeat.
The boxing world was shocked by Garcia’s upset. PED use will completely tarnish what was thought to be a great performance. Based off of the appeal, this fight can get overturned and get ruled as a no contest. This stunning development could very well kill all of the credibility that Garcia has amongst the boxing world. He cheated the scales but luckily Haney still went on with the fight. But if this result holds up then he could very well be without any options left.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
