Prizefighter Ryan Garcia Suspended For One Year Over PED Use
The New York State Athletic Commission announced its decision to ban Golden Boy boxer Ryan Garcia for testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug, ostarine. NYSAC boxing announced that Garcia has been suspended from boxing for one year.
Garcia, 25, claims that he never deliberately took the drug and was the victim of 'supplement contamination.’ The boxer forfeited $1.1 million from his latest win against Devin Haney in April. Garcia must also pay a $10,000 fine to the Commission.
It's been a turbulent streak for Garcia since his Apr. 20 majority decision win over Haney, between failing the PED drug test and recently announcing his retirement.
The recent news comes after Garcia's series of cryptic posts on Wednesday, announcing his intention to retire from boxing immediately.
Details on Garcia's ban now reveal that the former WBC interim lightweight champion agreed to a settlement with NYSAC boxing.
DALLAS - Ryan Garcia in action during a media workout at World Class Boxing Gym on April 9, 2024. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
His legal team released a statement concerning the boxer's alleged PED use on X.
"Ryan Garcia was the victim of substance contamination," the statement read. "with levels measured in the billions and trillions of a gram, which provided no advantage whatsoever in the ring. Ryan, with his legal team, has resolved this issue and firmly maintains his truth: he never intentionally took any banned substance. It's simply not in his nature."
The statement added, "I want to thank the commission and the fans who stood by me during this whole process," Haney, who is once again 31-0, told ESPN during a phone interview on Thursday. "The facts are the facts and I wasn't on an even playing field. Happy I was able to receive justice for what happened. It's all part of my story and it's only going to make me better. I look to enjoy this time with my family and friends and see what's next.
"I'm a clean athlete and boxing is a brutal sport where one fight can literally change your life. I think it important for fighters to be clean and I want to become an advocate for clean athletes for my experience in this situation."
(Is Ryan Garcia done with boxing for good? Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com)
NEW YORK - Ryan Garcia (white trunks) reacts against Devin Haney (gray trunks) during their WBC Super Lightweight title bout at Barclays Center on April 20, 2024. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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