Ryan Garcia has denied any intention of taking performance-enhancing drugs after his B-sample tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance. The 25-year-old plans to argue that the positive test was due to contamination from a tainted supplement. This comes after he tested positive in two separate tests before his fight with Devin Haney on April 20, which he won by points despite missing weight.
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) conducted the tests, but the positive results were only disclosed after the fight. Garcia had his B-samples tested, with the same results confirmed by Haney’s team. Garcia’s legal team believes that hair samples will help prove his innocence, arguing that he was a victim of supplement contamination.
Garcia, who has always been committed to clean and fair competition, has never intentionally used any banned substances. His legal team stated that they are testing the supplements used by Garcia before the fight to identify the exact source of the contamination. Ostarine, a non-steroidal substance used to support muscle growth, has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2008.
Amir Khan, a British boxer, received a two-year ban from UK Anti-Doping after testing positive for ostarine in 2022. This was due to “strict liability,” which imposes a ban regardless of intent. The New York State Athletic Commission, responsible for sanctioning Garcia’s fight against Haney, is currently investigating the case to determine whether to overturn the result or issue a suspension.
Garcia, with only one defeat on his 26-fight record, is regarded as one of the prominent figures in American boxing. The outcome of this investigation will have significant implications for his career and reputation in the sport.
