Boxer Ryan Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine in two drug tests related to his April 20 bout against Devin Haney, but has vehemently denied any performance-enhancing drug use.
The drama between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney ain’t over, not by a long shot. Garcia’s been caught with ostarine in his system, a big no-no in the MMA world. He tested positive not once, but twice, with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). This was all tied to his April 20 fight against Haney.
Dan Rafael, a seasoned boxing reporter, was the first to spill the beans. Garcia’s urine samples from April 19 and 20 both came back positive. But wait, there’s more. Garcia’s April 19 sample also hinted at 19-Norandrosterone, a metabolite of nandrolone and bolandione. It’s not confirmed yet, but it’s under further scrutiny.
Ostarine, the substance Garcia tested positive for, is a banned selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM). It’s been linked to several tainted supplement cases in the past. Garcia, only 25, managed to defeat Haney in a shockingly thorough bout. He knocked the WBC champ down three times, leading to a majority decision win. But when the news broke, Garcia denied any performance-enhancing drug use.
“Fake news,” Garcia said on X Spaces. “Don’t believe these guys, bro. I never took a steroid in my life. … If they had this information, they should’ve released this before the fight went down. Because why would you let a cheater step into the ring? Right? All of a sudden I win and then you release it? Seems kind of fishy to me. I know in my heart of hearts I didn’t cheat, so I’m gonna keep trolling this shit. This shit is hilarious. At the end of the day, I’m definitely innocent.
“They’re cheating by trying to take my victory. Screw them. Tell them to suck it. I beat Devin Haney fair and square. All you guys that say I cheated, you can all suck it. I didn’t cheat a day in my life. Never have, never will. I don’t move like that. Facts.”
Garcia also shared a video maintaining his innocence. He posted a photo of “Ashwagandha root” with the message, “My bad I shouldn’t have took this.” Several of Garcia’s posts can be seen below.
Garcia has a 10-day window to request a testing of his B samples. It’s still unclear how this news will affect the result of Garcia vs. Haney. Garcia could face a fine, suspension, and his victory could be overturned into a no-contest. MMA Fighting will continue to update this story as it develops.