Ryan Garcia Suspended One Year for Ostarine Use
Boxing star Ryan Garcia has been handed a one-year suspension after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine, as confirmed by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC).
The suspension, retroactive to Garcia’s April 20 victory over Devin Haney, has resulted in the bout being overturned to a no-contest. Garcia must also forfeit his $1.2 million disclosed purse and pay a $10,000 fine.
Garcia, 25, tested positive for ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator that aids in muscle growth and fat loss. Ostarine has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2008. Garcia’s team maintains that he never intentionally took the substance.
Haney, who was ESPN’s No. 6 pound-for-pound boxer at the time, welcomed the commission’s decision, expressing relief at the justice served. “The facts are the facts, and I wasn’t on an even playing field. I’m happy to receive justice for what happened,” Haney told ESPN. His record, now restored to 31-0, had seen a temporary blemish due to the overturned bout with Garcia.
Garcia’s reinstatement is set for April 20, 2025, contingent on a clean urine test. The suspension prevents Garcia from competing for a year, with the Association of Boxing Commissions set to honor the ban. Pat English, Haney’s attorney, described the forfeiture of Garcia’s purse as unprecedented.
The bout between Garcia and Haney had been marred by controversy, with Garcia missing the weight for the WBC junior welterweight title contest by 3.2 pounds. Despite being floored in rounds 7, 10, and 11, Haney’s record now excludes this no-contest.
Garcia, who has a professional record of 24-1 with 20 KOs, last won an official bout in December against Oscar Duarte. His previous defeat came in April 2023, when he was stopped by Gervonta Davis. Garcia’s career has also seen a 15-month layoff for mental health reasons and hand surgery.
Despite his suspension, Garcia’s team asserts his innocence, insisting he never knowingly ingested banned substances. “It’s simply not in his nature,” his team stated. Garcia remains adamant about his innocence, stating on social media, “I’m innocent. I stand by that.”
The NYSAC emphasized its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport, stating, “The commission will continue to hold athletes to the highest professional standards.”
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