Rising boxing star Ryan Garcia has been suspended for one year by the New York State Athletic Commission after testing positive for ostarine, a prohibited performance-enhancing substance.
The decision, reported by ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, comes in the aftermath of Garcia’s controversial victory over Devin Haney.
The bout, which took place on April 20, 2024, initially saw Garcia, 25, emerge victorious by majority decision, handing Haney his first professional defeat.
However, the commission’s ruling has far-reaching consequences beyond the suspension. Garcia’s win has been overturned and reclassified as a no contest, effectively restoring Haney’s unblemished record of 31-0.
The controversy began in early May when reports surfaced suggesting Garcia had failed drug tests both before and on the day of the fight.
Despite these allegations, Garcia vehemently denied any wrongdoing, taking to social media to proclaim his innocence. “Everybody knows I don’t cheat,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter), adding that he’s “never taken a steroid.”
The commission’s decision carries significant financial repercussions for Garcia. In addition to the year-long ban, he must forfeit $1 million of his earnings to Golden Boy Promotions and pay a $10,000 fine.
On Wednesday, Garcia took to X to announce his retirement from boxing. “I’m officially retired,” he stated.
This declaration came shortly after he posted “I’m outty” and “I may retire I’m done with this game” in separate messages.
Garcia also expressed frustration with the sport, saying, “There is so much corruption I’m over it” and that “boxing will be alright without me.”
He continued by stating that the boxing world will be “alright without me.”
Meanwhile, Haney, speaking to ESPN about the ruling, expressed gratitude and relief: “I want to thank the commission and the fans who stood by me during this whole process. 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.”
This development marks a significant turn in the careers of both fighters and raises questions about the ongoing challenges of maintaining integrity in professional boxing.
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