Ryan Garcia, a 25-year-old American boxer with just one defeat on his 26-fight record, has denied intentionally taking performance-enhancing drugs after his B-sample came back positive for a banned substance. The test was conducted before his fight with Devin Haney on 20 April, which he won on points despite missing weight for the contest.
Garcia’s legal team released a statement that he has always been committed to clean and fair competition and has never intentionally used any banned substance. They are currently testing the supplements used by Garcia to determine the exact source of the contamination. Ostarine, a non-steroidal substance used to support muscle growth, has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substance list since 2008.
The positive tests were not revealed until after the fight by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada). When Haney’s team confirmed the same results from the B-samples, Garcia’s legal team maintained that he is innocent of intentionally using any banned substance and is working to prove that the positive test was due to contaminated supplements. An investigation will continue with the New York State Athletic Commission, who sanctioned the fight against Haney, to determine if Garcia’s win should be overturned to a no-contest or if a suspension will be issued.
Amir Khan, a British boxer, was previously banned for two years by UK Anti-Doping after testing positive for ostarine in 2022. This ban was enforced under “strict liability,” meaning a ban is applied regardless of intent.
