Boxer Ryan Garcia has been embroiled in a major controversy after reports emerged that he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) around his fight with Devin Haney on April 20.
Garcia’s pre-fight tests conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) revealed the presence of Ostarine, a banned substance, in his system. Tests from both the day before and the day of the fight came back positive for Ostarine, which can enhance muscle growth.
Garcia vehemently denied the accusations, calling it a “witch hunt” and a “conspiracy” against him. Plus, he also pointed the finger at Victor Conte and claimed that the BALCO kingpin was responsible for his positive test. He suggests Conte somehow influenced the testing process.
Now, as reported by TMZ Sports, Conte vehemently denies any involvement. He states he’s completely independent of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), the organization that conducts the drug testing for Garcia’s fights. He calls Garcia’s accusation a “conspiracy theory.”
“His conspiracy theory is completely wrong and debunked. I have nothing to do with this. I’m completely independent of VADA,” Conte mentioned during an interview with TMZ Sports.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission, which sanctioned the fight, is yet to announce any official decisions. FYI, Ryan Garcia has the right to request a test of his B-sample, which could confirm or refute the initial results. Depending on the outcome, Garcia could face significant penalties, including a potential overturn of his victory and suspension from boxing.
Victor Conte’s Controversial History: Let’s Look Back
Victor Conte is a central figure in one of the biggest sports doping scandals of recent times, the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative) scandal of the mid-2000s.
In 1984, Conte founded BALCO, a sports nutrition center. By the late 1990s, with the help of a chemist, Conte is alleged to have developed a new designer steroid called THG (tetrahydrogestrinone), nicknamed “The Clear” for its appearance. This undetectable steroid was allegedly supplied to several high-profile athletes, particularly in baseball.
In 2004, a federal investigation into BALCO’s activities exposed the steroid ring. Conte and others associated with BALCO were indicted on charges of distributing steroids and laundering money. Conte eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering charges and served four months in prison followed by house arrest.
The scandal implicated some of baseball’s biggest stars, including Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez and many more
While none were criminally charged, their reputations were tarnished, and their accomplishments cast under a shadow of suspicion.
Bonds, in particular, never admitted to knowingly using steroids, but Major League Baseball (MLB) has since suspended him for his involvement with BALCO.
Conte has since claimed he was simply providing performance-enhancing supplements that were legal at the time and maintains he never knowingly gave athletes banned substances. He has also positioned himself as an anti-doping advocate in recent years.
