ESPN reported on Wednesday, via a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association letter, that Ryan Garcia tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine in two drug tests with VADA.
Conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, Garcia tested positive in a pre-fight urine test on April 19 as well as a post-fight urine test on April 20, in his win over Devin Haney.
Even though the samples were taken before the fight, the results weren’t known later. Garcia now has 10 days to request that his B-sample be tested.
Per the updates, his A-sample also screened positive for 19-Norandrosterone, but its presence is unconfirmed at this time.
He has been “screened positive but was not confirmed” for 19-Norandrosterone, a metabolite of nandrolone and bolandione in his April 19 sample, pending further analysis via IRMS.
Garcia defeated Devin Haney, a former amateur rival, by a majority decision on April 20 in New York, knocking down the WBC champ three times, but did not win the title because he was over the weight limit.
In the video posted on, X he responded to the news on Wednesday by denying any performance-enhancing drug use.
“Everybody knows that I don’t cheat. Never taken a steroid. I don’t even know where to get steroids. I barely take supplements. Big lies.”
Devin Haney released a statement after Ryan Garcia tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance before and the day of their fight last month. pic.twitter.com/0pfEUaqM9e
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 2, 2024
Now the result of the bout stands to be overturned unless the B-sample returns negative, which is rare, Haney said in a statement to ESPN.
“We learned about this situation not too long ago, and its unfortunate Ryan cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty and breaking positive not once, but twice.”
Also added,
“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.”
