Star boxer Ryan Garcia faces a disciplinary action as lab results on his B-sample returned positive after his win against Devin Haney. Boxing reporter Dan Rafael announced the results on Thursday after the test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency [VADA] revealed Garcia tested positive for Ostarine.
The drug ‘Ostarine’ is a selective androgen receptor modulator [SARM] that attaches to a protein in the body and effectively signals for muscles to grow. It also aids performance by helping athletes build muscle mass and enhance their fat loss rate.
The news came a few weeks after the boxers were tested negative for another drug. Garcias went live on X. “ You guys can see fake news earlier this month. Fake f**king news. Don’t believe these f**kers. I never f**king took a steroid in my f**king life. I don’t even know how that s**t. It’s the weirdest s**t ever.” However, shortly afterward, Garcia tested positive for ostarine.
Due to the substance being seen in Garcia’s system shortly after his battle with Haney, the boxer may be looking at a potential suspension, fine, or overtuning of fight results depending on the final verdict of the New York State Athletic Commission. Speaking with ESPN on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, the boxer comments discussed his situation. “I don’t know where [the adverse finding] came from. Honestly, bro, I don’t. I was taking ashwagandha, D-3, Omega-3, just normal s***. I don’t know what the f***[ostarine] is. … I have seriously no idea. I would tell everyone the truth.
“My whole thing is I’d rather tell the truth than try to fabricate it with a lie because lies don’t stand. So if I really did take it, I would be like, honestly, ‘I was going through a weird situation. I wasn’t really that confident. I chose to take it. I’m sorry.’ And that’s it. But I didn’t, and I hate cheating. … All I can say is, legal team, help me figure this out.”
During a formal legal hearing, Darin Chavez, a member of the Garcias legal team, revealed that after the team was notified, they took action. Garcia’s hair was collected and tested by Dr. Pascal Kintz. The results from the hair sample came out negative, indicating that the supplement may be the cause of the problem.
The commission is still open to Ryan Garica’s team, revealing there was supplement contamination and Garcia’s innocence. However, if they can’t, the athlete will face punishment.
On the other hand, his opponent, Devin Haney, doesn’t believe Garcias. The formerly undefeated boxer had much to say to Garcias and his promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. Haney lashed out at Garcia’s: “Cheaters don’t prosper. What is done in the dark always comes to light.” He also took to X to call out Garcias and his team. “ Ryan & his team knew he would test positive, that’s why they did a bs “hair test” on their own which who really knows if they did it.”
Haney’s team has taken advantage of this controversy and lobbied for Garcias to be disqualified retroactively.
