Report: Ryan Garcia Tested Positive for PED Before Upset Win in Fight vs. Devin Haney
May 2, 2024
Ryan Garcia reportedly tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug ostarine after taking a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test related to his majority-decision win over Devin Haney on April 20.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported the news Wednesday, citing "multiple sources with knowledge of the results."
Mike Coppinger of ESPN added more info:
Mike Coppinger @MikeCoppingerRyan Garcia tested positive for the PED Ostarine the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney, per a VADA letter obtained by ESPN. Garcia has 10 days to request his B-sample be tested. A-sample also screened positive for 19-norandrosterone but unconfirmed.
Garcia was supposed to fight Haney for the WBC super lightweight title but was disqualified from winning the belt after coming in three pounds overweight at weigh-ins.
After the news broke, Garcia responded on X:
Haney also responded to the news, saying it "puts the fight in a completely different light."
An infuriated Bill Haney (Devin's father and trainer) also spoke with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix on the matter.
"You trying to hurt my baby," Haney said. "We played it fair. We didn't do it like that. F--k boxing, this is some bulls--t. I came from the streets. You scared of Devin on a level playing field. I feel f--ked up over this. If you can brag about doing it, you shouldn't be on drugs."
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency defines ostarine as follows:
"Ostarine is the trademarked name for a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is not approved for human use or consumption in the U.S., or in any other country. In recent years, WADA has reported an increasing number of positive tests involving SARMs, and athletes who use these substances most likely obtain them through black market channels.
"Research has shown that SARMs like ostarine have fewer androgenic properties, meaning they have less influence on the development and balance of male hormones, including testosterone. While they are not yet approved for human use, SARMs are of interest to the medical community because they might be effective at treating different health conditions without resulting in the negative side effects of steroids. Ostarine is currently being investigated as a way to treat a variety of muscle wasting diseases, such as osteoporosis, cancer, and hypogonadism."
The USADA further clarified that there are some "products that contain ostarine, but only illegal ones," and that there are "no legal medications that contain ostarine."
Garcia entered the fight as a major underdog and struggled early, but rallied back and knocked down Haney in the seventh, 10th and 11th rounds. He ultimately won 114-110, 115-109 and 112-112 on the judges' cards.
Haney entered the fight a perfect 31-0 with 15 knockouts. Garcia (25-1) had only lost to Gervonta Davis.