Boxer Ryan Garcia has been cleared of a potential positive drug test for the 19-Norandrosterone metabolite but results are still pending for a positive test for the banned substance ostarine, which his team has contested.
Ryan Garcia, the boxing sensation, can finally breathe easy. It’s Wednesday, and the news is out.
Veteran boxing reporter Dan Rafael has some updates. Garcia, it seems, has been cleared of a potential positive drug test. The substance in question? The 19-Norandrosterone metabolite, a derivative of the banned substance nandrolone.
Garcia had initially tested positive for the metabolite. But the results were hanging in the balance, awaiting further analysis via Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS). The wait is over now. The results? Negative.
But here’s the twist. Garcia also tested positive for another banned substance, ostarine. The samples were collected on April 19 and April 20. These were the days leading up to his recent win over Devin Haney.
Garcia’s team isn’t taking this lying down. They’ve contested the findings, requesting the testing of a B-sample. The results of this are still hanging in the balance. According to Rafael, the samples are expected to be opened on May 22.
Garcia, for his part, has denied knowingly using any performance-enhancing drugs. He’s been vocal about it too, tweeting several responses to Wednesday’s update. He’s touting his supposed vindication.
His tweets? They’re pretty straightforward. “So yall realize I didn’t fail the tests now,” he wrote. “No substance other than this imaginary ostrich substance. Level so low wouldn’t have any effect. THEY TRIED BUT NO LIE STANDS. PRAISE GOD.”
Rafael, however, has some more information. There is no allowable threshold for ostarine. If any amount is detected in Garcia’s B-sample, it will be considered a positive test.
But Garcia is unfazed. He’s even added that for his next fight, he’ll allow his opponent to be on performance-enhancing drugs. His tweet? “I will let the next man I fight. Fight me with steroids. I will eat only oranges for a month straight and destroy him.”
Garcia had defeated Haney via majority decision in a bout that saw Garcia score three knockdowns. This marked the first defeat for Haney in 32 pro bouts. The fight was for Haney’s WBC super lightweight title, but Garcia missed weight by three pounds. He was ineligible to win the belt.
Haney, however, has responded to Garcia’s comments on his drug test. And he’s done it via social media. “Levels high enough to test positive.. obviously it would have an effect.. u dirty bitch,” he wrote.