Star boxer Ryan Garcia tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Ostarine both the day before and the day of his upset victory over Devin Haney last month, according to a letter from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association sent to all involved parties on Wednesday and obtained by ESPN.
The samples were collected prior to the fight, but the results were not known until later.
Garcia now has 10 days to request analysis of his B-sample. Garcia’s A-sample also tested positive for 19-norandrosterone, but its presence is not confirmed at this time.
“Everyone knows I don’t cheat,” Garcia said in a video posted on X. “I’ve never taken a steroid… I don’t even know where to get steroids… I barely take supplements. Big lies,” he claimed emphatically.
Golden Boy Promotions, owned by Oscar De La Hoya, stated they are working with Garcia’s team to “determine how this finding was reached.”
“Ryan has issued multiple statements denying the conscious use of prohibited substances, and we believe him,” said Golden Boy in their statement.
The 25-year-old Garcia knocked down Haney three times during the majority decision win, but that result may now be overturned unless the B-sample returns a negative result, which is rare.
“We just learned about this situation recently and it’s unfortunate that Ryan has cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty and testing positive not once, but twice,” Haney stated to ESPN.
“…Ryan owes the fans an apology, and from his recent tweet, he still thinks this is a joke. We risk our lives to entertain people for a living. Boxing is no joke. This puts the fight in a completely different light. Despite the odds, I still fought on my shield and stood up. People die in this sport! This is no laughing matter.”
Additionally, Garcia also lost weight before the bout, weighing in at 143.2 pounds for the 140-pound WBC title fight. Haney, also 25, remained the junior welterweight champion even in defeat.
“The safety, fairness, and integrity of professional athletic competition are essential,” the New York State Athletic Commission stated to ESPN. “The Commission is in communication with VADA and is reviewing the matter.”
