Boxer Ryan Garcia has denied knowingly using steroids after failing a drug test and stated that he would quit boxing if proven guilty, while also questioning the testing process of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Ryan Garcia ain’t about to let a drug test scandal ruin his recent win. The Garcia-Haney fight in April was already pretty controversial. Garcia messed up his shot at Haney’s super lightweight title, missing the weight by three pounds. But hey, he brought it on fight night. He scored multiple knockdowns, won a majority decision, and handed Haney his first loss.
Then, on May 1, the news broke. Garcia failed a couple of drug tests. Tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance. Garcia’s been adamant, though. He swears he didn’t knowingly use steroids.
He had a chat on Instagram Live with Jake Paul, the boxer and social media influencer. Garcia even said he’d quit boxing if he’s proven guilty. Paul didn’t hold back. He told Garcia, “If you did do it, that’s really f*cked up. I’m gonna be pissed off at you as a friend.”
Garcia’s response? “If I did it, which I know damn well I didn’t, I would quit boxing. I didn’t do it. That’s crazy.”
The win was a big deal for Garcia. He’d just bounced back from a high-profile loss to Gervonta Davis with a knockout of Oscar Duarte. He was after his first world title, an opportunity he lost on the scale.
The 25-year-old also acted a bit strange on social media before the Haney fight. He’s since claimed it was all an act. Now, he’s dealing with allegations outside the ring again.
Garcia’s adamant. “At the end of the day, I know I didn’t,” he said. “God is watching me at all times. I’m not gonna cheat people. I could’ve hurt him. I could’ve killed him. Why the f*ck would I do that? It’s so stupid, I’m not gonna do it. Deadass, I would never cheat.”
Garcia’s questioned the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) process. He’s suspicious about the timing of the results. According to him, he tested negative several times leading up to fight week. He thinks there’s a conspiracy against him.
“If all my tests came out clean all the way up to the day before my fight and the day after, obviously they’re setting me up,” Garcia said. “I don’t take f*cking steroids. This is like some shit I shouldn’t have to be dealing with, but because I won, they threw this shit on me. I don’t do f*cking steroids. That’s weird. I’ve never done steroids in my life.”