Ryan Garcia returns positive test for banned substance after defeating Devin Haney
Ryan Garcia’s upset for the ages has been thrown into question after reports emerged he returned a failed drug test before the fight.
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Ryan Garcia’s stunning upset win over Devin Haney is now under an intense spotlight after he reportedly tested positive for a banned performance enhancing drug (PED).
The 25-year-old shocked the boxing world when he handed Haney his first professional defeat on April 21.
On Thursday (AEST) the result was thrown under a cloud when boxing journalist Dan Rafael broke the news that Garcia had tested positive for Ostarine
Ostarine is used to help athletes put on muscle mass while also enhancing the rate at which they lose weight.
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According to Rafael, Garcia failed a urine test a day before the fight and one on the day of the fight with both failing for Ostarine. Garcia’s A-sample also screened positive for 19-norandrosterone, although it was not confirmed.
“Per multiple sources with knowledge of the results, Ryan Garcia tested positive for the banned PED Ostarine in a VADA test related to the Haney fight,” Rafael wrote on X.
“Garcia positive tests per source with direct knowledge: Failed for Ostarine in 2 urine tests on April 19 & post-fight April 20.
“Ryan Garcia has 10 days to ask for B sample to be tested at his own expense. So, not only blows weight by 3.2 pounds he also apparently was dirty for a PED and possible two.”
Garcia hit back shortly after news of his reported fail tests was announced and emphatically denied the claims in a series of posts on social media.
“Fake f***ing news, don’t believe these f***ers, bro. I never f***ing took a steroid in my f***ing life,” Garcia wrote on X.
“If they had this information, they should have released this before the fight went down.
“Why would you let a cheater step into the ring? All of a sudden, I win and then you release it? Seems kind of fishy to me.
“I know in my heart of hearts I didn’t cheat. At the end of the day I’m definitely innocent.
“Why in the world would I volunteer for a drug test if I planned on taking drugs? Make it make sense?”
The American added: ““They’re cheating by trying to take my victory. F*** them, f*** these motherf***ers, tell them to suck my d**k. I beat Devin Haney fair and square, they can suck my d**k.
He then posted an image mocking the news by holding a bottle of Ashwagandha Root supplements with the caption jokingly reading: “My bad I shouldn’t have took this.”
Haney issued a statement to ESPN in the wake of Garcia’s failed drug test coming out, stating that Garcia owes the fans of boxing an apology.
“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 testing positive not once, but twice,” Haney’s statement read.
“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.”
Questions have now been raised over what levels Garcia tested at with reporter Kevin Iole noting the levels could be a deciding factor.
“Ostarine is a PED you have to take in extremely large quantities. It will be important to know what the levels that Garcia tested at,” he wrote on X.
“If it’s in the picogram level, it suggests contaminated supplements. That is common. But it was IRMS tested, so it was there. How much is question.”
Originally published as Ryan Garcia returns positive test for banned substance after defeating Devin Haney
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