Boxing star Ryan Garcia and his team have hit back after reports his B sample came back positive for performance enhancing drug Ostarine.
Garcia stunned the boxing world when he handed former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney his first professional defeat on April 21.
Haney didn’t lose his WBC super lightweight title, however, as Garcia missed weight for the bout and responded: “Why would I force myself to make weight so I can be weak. Nah I’m here to win That’s it.”.
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The fight went the distance and Garcia earned the win from two of the judges, 114-110 and 115-109, with one calling it a 112-112 draw.
But it was just the start of the drama as the 25-year-old Garcia reportedly tested positive for banned performance enhancing drug Ostarine.
Ostarine is used to help athletes put on muscle mass while also enhancing the rate at which they lose weight.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported via his Fight Freaks Unite substack that Garcia failed a urine test administered a day before the fight and one on the day of the fight by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), with both failing for Ostarine.
Garcia hit back immediately in an expletive-laden rant, claiming: “Fake f***ing news, don’t believe these f***ers, bro. I never f***ing took a steroid in my f***ing life.”
Amid a series of tweets questioning the motives behind the news, the American added: “They’re cheating by trying to take my victory. F**k them, f**k these motherf**kers, tell them to suck my d**k. I beat Devin Haney fair and square, they can suck my d**k.”
Garcia had 10 days to ask for the B sample to be tested at his own expense, which he did.
But Rafael has reported Garcia’s B samples also tested positive for Ostarine.
In a series of now deleted tweeted, Garcia wrote: “Lets go we positive. Positive vibes bruh. Yess so happy.”
In a seemingly sarcastic follow-up post, the American wrote: “I F**KING LOVE STERIODS [sic].”
He added: “I don’t care I’ll never make money again with boxing. Your loss not mine.”
The next step is believed to be Garcia presenting his case to the New York State Athletic Commission, which sanctioned the Garcia-Haney fight.
Haney’s team is lobbying for the result to be overturned and declared either a no contest or a disqualification, with a formal appeal expected after the release of the B sample results.
Rafael reports: “Garcia likely will be suspended and the result of the fight overturned. It could either be changed to a no contest or a disqualification loss for Garcia and a DQ win for Haney, whose attorney, Patrick English, wrote a nine-page letter to the commission making the case that it should be changed to a disqualification and that Haney’s undefeated record should be restored.”
Haney’s team argued that two failed drug tests, Garcia hinting he missed weight to gain an advantage and reports he also used IV bags to hydrate before the fight should see Garcia disqualified and Haney’s previously unblemished record reinstated.
The use of IV bags is against New York rules without a therapeutic use exemption and can be used to dilute urine to avoid a positive test.
Garcia did not have an exemption.
Garcia’s legal team also responded, claiming an independent hair-sample analysis it says came back negative indicated it was contaminated rather than a sign of long-term use.
“Ryan Garcia is committed to clean and fair competition and has never intentionally used any banned substance,” Garcia’s legal team said in a joint statement.
“Soon after being notified of his positive test, Ryan voluntarily had his hair collected and shipped to Dr Pascal Kintz, the foremost expert in toxicology and hair-sample analysis. The results of Ryan’s hair sample came back negative.
“This is consistent with contamination and demonstrably proves that Ryan had not ingested Ostarine over a period of time — the only way he would have had any advantage whatsoever in the ring.
“Ryan has voluntarily submitted to tests throughout his career, which have always shown negative results. He also tested negative multiple times leading up to the fight against Haney. “We are certain that one of the natural supplements Ryan was using in the lead up to the fight will prove to be contaminated and are in the process of testing the supplements to determine the exact source.”
Rafael added that “Garcia’s team did not, however, offer any proof of the hair testing nor disclose where on the body the hair came from, which is significant when it comes to that sort of testing”.
He also suggested there was “extremely limited research with regard to Ostarine and hair testing”.
Senior writer for Ring Magazine Jake Donovan shared a statement from Golden Boy Boxing, who promote Garcia.
“The fact that Ostarine wasn’t present in Ryan’s hair and nail samples — combined with his multiple negative tests in the run up to his victory over Devin Haney — conclusively prove that he received no benefit from any PED and that supplement contamination is the likely culprit of his adverse VADA tests. As noted when the initial tests emerged, we believe Ryan — and we continue to today,” the statement shared to X said.
Devin Haney posted on X after the news, tweeting: “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.”
The New York State Athletic Commission told Rafael a hearing had not yet been scheduled.
“This matter is still under review by the New York State Athletic Commission and no further comment on the details of the pending investigation will be provided at this time,” Rafael reported.
“The Commission strictly prohibits the use of performance enhancing drugs and works vigorously to uphold the integrity of the sport and maintain a level playing field. Where violations are found, the Commission will take action.”
Garcia has been increasingly erratic in recent times, including taking a wild shot at Aussie boxing star George Kambosos Jr.
He also reportedly announced his divorce to ex-wife Andrea Celina just hours after the birth of their son in January of this year.
He also announced he was dating Aussie OnlyFans model Mikaela Testa in February, but was engaged to Aussie pornstar Savannah Bond by April.
He told Jake Paul this week that he’d bought Bond a $1m ring, before a confusing segment when he added they’d broken up, before FaceTiming her and calling her “my girlfriend”.
The American has had boxing chiefs and fans concerned after his antics and a string of wild social media claims.
Source Agencies
