Ryan Garcia, the boxing sensation, has found himself embroiled in controversy after testing positive for Ostarine, a banned performance-enhancing drug. The revelation comes in the aftermath of his recent victory over Devin Haney, where Garcia secured a majority decision win in a highly anticipated bout held in Brooklyn.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association conducted the test, which also revealed Garcia’s initial screening positive for 19-norandrosterone, another banned substance. However, official confirmation of this finding is still pending. Garcia now has a window of ten days to request testing of his B-sample, a process that could provide further clarity on the situation.
In response to the shocking news, Devin Haney’s father expressed outrage, accusing Garcia of malicious intent and condemning the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport. Despite Garcia’s victory, Haney retained his WBC super lightweight title, as Garcia had exceeded the weight limit during the weigh-in.
Garcia’s triumph over Haney marked a significant milestone in his career, dealing the first defeat to Haney’s professional record, which now stands at 31 wins and 1 loss. However, the positive drug test has cast a shadow of doubt over the legitimacy of Garcia’s win and the sport as a whole.
Garcia has adamantly denied any wrongdoing, attributing the positive test to a supplement he was taking, specifically citing an ashwagandha root supplement. He has also questioned the timing of the test results, suggesting they were deliberately withheld until after his victory. Garcia has pointed out that timing of the positive test result only came a few days after he was seen with Trump, alleging a conspiracy to punish him for his political beliefs. Garcia also referred to the drug test results as “fake news,” ripping a page from the former president’s playbook.
With Garcia’s professional record now standing at 25 wins and 1 loss following his victory over Haney, the fallout from the positive drug test has left his future in the sport uncertain. Garcia could face sanctions and reputational fallout if the allegations against him prove true.