After defeating Devin Haney by majority decision last month, reports came out that Ryan Garcia tested positive for a banned substance known as ostarine, on May 1. That is, after denying taking any sort of performance enhancers, the superstar boxer had his B-sample tests revealed on Thursday, in which the illegal drug also show up in the positive test.
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For most people wondering what ostarine is and why it is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, it's because it is known as a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), that attaches to proteins in the body, helping muscles to grow at a faster rate. Athletes will also use this for athletic performance, due to it's benefits of increasing recovery and stamina.
Garcia claims that he was only taking natural supplements before the fight.
"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 everybody the truth."
Furthermore, Garcia's legal team, in particular lawyer Darin Chavez, stated that the boxer voluntarily gave his hair to be sampled after the positive test.
"Ryan voluntarily had his hair collected and shipped to Dr. Pascal Kintz, the foremost expert in toxicology and hair-sample analysis," Chavez said in a statement. "The results of Ryan's hair sample came back negative. We are certain that one of the natural supplements Ryan was using in the lead up to the fight will prove to be contaminated. We are in the process of testing the supplements to determine the exact source."
The ones in charge of the testing for the fight, Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), informed Haney's lawyer, Patrick English, of the updated positive test, who then told reporters that now it is up to the New York State Athletic Commission to make a ruling on the findings.
English stated, "The typical situation is that they would issue a suspension."
The following statement was issued by the Athletic Commission:
"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 a 25-1 record, that includes 20 knockouts, yet the 25-year-old's victory over Haney (31-1-0) on April 20 was seen as an upset. With this in mind, now regarding the positive performance enhancing drug test, the fight has a chance to be overturned.
That is also, if the verdict is that the boxer was in fact juicing, then there may be a chance that Garcia gets suspended along with getting his boxing license revoked.
With that being said, Garcia and his legal team are not worried, and continue to state his innocence, "Ryan Garcia is committed to clean and fair competition, and has never intentionally used any banned substance."
As noted, they provided evidence with the negative hair test results, which showed according to his attorneys, "This is consistent with contamination and demonstrably proves that Ryan had not ingested Ostarine over a period of time."
In regards to if Garcia is fazed at all, he took to Instagram and X (Twitter) to post his negative hair test results.
We up pic.twitter.com/CtC57GWkMs
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) May 23, 2024
While also stating in a separate message,
"I don't care I'll never make money again with boxing. Your loss not mine. For setting me up. lol joke on yall."
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