Exclusive: Ryan Garcia fails two VADA tests for banned substance
Returns urine samples positive for Ostarine related to win vs. Haney
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Ryan Garcia twice tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine in urine tests related to his upset majority decision victory over Devin Haney on April 20 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, multiple sources with knowledge of the test results told Fight Freaks Unite on Wednesday.
A sample Garcia provided on April 19 and another one on April 20, most likely given shortly after pay-per-view bout, both came back positive for the banned substance on Wednesday. The fighters had also been randomly tested in the weeks leading up to the fight.
Ostarine, which has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list since 2008 and in 2022 was officially listed by WADA as an anabolic agent, is used to assist athletic performance by helping build muscle mass, burn fat, increase stamina and give the athlete the ability to recover quickly from strenuous work.
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VADA issued a letter on Wednesday detailing the results to those involved in the fight, which was supposed to be Garcia challenging for Haney’s WBC junior welterweight title. However, although Garcia scored three knockdowns on left hooks and won the on two scorecards, Garcia was not eligible to win the belt because he weighed in at 143.2 pounds, well over the 140-pound limit. Haney remains the WBC titleholder.
In addition to the Ostarine being present in the April 19 and April 20 urine samples, Garcia’s sample on April 19 “also screened positive but was not confirmed for 19-Norandrosterone pending IRMS (isotope ratio mass spectrometry) analysis currently being run.” That is also a banned PED.
As is standard, Garcia has 10 days to ask for his B sample to be tested at his expense. In virtually all instances the B sample comes back with the same results as the A sample.
Haney was obviously upset by the disclosure.
“We learned about this situation not too long ago and it’s unfortunate Ryan cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty and breaking positive not once, but twice,” Haney said in a statement given to Fight Freaks Unite. “I’ve always been an advocate for clean fighting and this is an example of such. Ryan owes the fans an apology, and by his recent tweet he still thinks this is a joke. We put our lives on the line to entertain people for a living. You don’t play boxing.
“This puts the fight in a completely different light. Despite the disadvantage, I still fought on my shield and got back up! People die in this sport. This isn’t a joking matter.”
Garcia denied using any PEDs in a social media video and in several posts.
“I’m here to address this bull-fucking-shit claim that I cheated,” Garcia stated in an Instagram video. “Everyone knows that I don’t cheat. What can I say? Why didn’t they come out with this before the fight, if they found it before? Why would they let me step into the ring as a cheater?
“I come out with the victory and then they post this. These are people that are trying to attack me for whatever reason. No weapon against me shall prosper.
“I’ve never taken a steroid in my life’ I don’t even know where to get steroids. I barely take supplements. Big lies, I beat his ass. Fuck outta here.”
There would be no way for a sample taken the day before and right after the bout to have had the results known immediately as Garcia suggested.
“Ryan has put out multiple statements denying knowingly using any banned substances — and we believe him,” Golden Boy Promotions, Garcia’s promoter, said in a statement. “We are working with his team to determine how this finding came to be and will address this further once we conclude that process.”
Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs for now), 25, of Los Angeles, most likely will face a hearing before the New York State Athletic Commission that in all likelihood will end with Garcia being suspended and the result of the fight being changed to no contest. That means the win would be erased from Garcia’s record and Haney (31-1, 15 KOs for now), 25, of Las Vegas, the former undisputed lightweight champion, would see his first loss be removed from his record.
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Ryan is a superstitious imbecile who blames 'they' (secret cabals) for all the world's ills. Judging by his statements (if one can describe his inane ramblings that way) this will be no different. He will find a receptive audience for this too, as social media is awash with conspiracy thinking.
Will someone please put a tent on this circus!!