The day before Ryan Garcia stunned the boxing world with his upset over Davin Haney on April 20, the controversial boxer tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance ostarine, according to a letter from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association obtained by ESPN on Wednesday. News of the positive test was first shared by journalist Dan Rafael, who also reported that Garcia’s pre-fight sample screened positive for 19-norandrosterone.
Garcia denied using any banned substances in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday night.
“Everybody knows that I don’t cheat,” Garcia said. “What can I say? Why didn’t they come out with this before the fight if they found it before? Why would they let me step into the ring as a cheater, and then come out with the victory and then post this? These are people that are trying to attack me for whatever reason.”
Fake news like if I was Donald trump pic.twitter.com/PVg5EW7yLd
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) May 2, 2024
According to the letter, the urine samples were collected prior to the fight, but the results weren’t known until later.
Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions said in a statement it believes Garcia didn’t knowingly use any banned substance.
In a statement provided to ESPN, Haney said, “It’s unfortunate Ryan cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty and breaking positive not once, but twice.” Garcia weighed in 3.2 pounds over the pair’s agreed-upon limit before knocking Haney down three times in the bout and winning by majority decision as a major underdog.
Sweet Chin Music 🎶
Here are all 3 knockdowns @RyanGarcia delivered to @Realdevinhaney to secure the win.#HaneyGarcia pic.twitter.com/18obAwynEE
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) April 21, 2024
“Ryan owes the fans an apology, and by his recent tweet he still thinks this is a joke,” Haney told ESPN. “We put our lives on the line to entertain people for a living. You don’t play boxing. … This puts the fight in a completely different light.”
The result of the bout could be overturned unless Garcia’s B-sample — the urine or blood sample used in doping tests to confirm or invalidate the first sample’s conclusion — returns negative. He has 10 days to request for it to be tested.
The win improved Garcia’s record to 25-1, but would likely be changed to a no contest if the test samples are confirmed to be positive.
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(Photo: Al Bello / Getty Images)
