Ryan Garcia’s performance-enhancing performance came a day before and a day after his unexpected win over Devin Haney in Brooklyn last month, according to letters sent to both sides by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada). Tested positive for the anabolic agent ostarine.
ESPN was the first to report the news that Garcia failed a drug test, which if confirmed would likely result in a suspension and overturning the result to a no-contest.
Garcia has 10 days to request testing of his B sample. Garcia’s A sample also reportedly screened positive for 19-norandrosterone, but carbon isotope ratio testing confirmed its presence.
Ostarine is an anabolic drug considered a safer alternative to steroids and is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2024 banned list.
Garcia strongly denies taking any illegal drugs In videos posted to Wednesday night.
“Everybody knows I don’t cheat,” Garcia said. “…never took steroids…I didn’t even know where to get steroids. …I barely took supplements. Big lie, I beat him.
On April 20, Garcia knocked down Haney three times, handing the WBC super lightweight champion his first career defeat.
The 12-round fight originally scheduled to take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn was downgraded to a non-title bout when Garcia weighed in at 143.2 pounds, 3.2 pounds over the division limit, leaving Garcia unable to capture Haney’s title but only his. Perfect career.
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator that has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list since 2008. Found guilty and banned from all sports for two years.
