Credit: X
Following a report emerging that Ryan Garcia has tested positive for a banned substance, the American professional boxer has come out to deny using performance-enhancing drugs on social media. The allegations against the 25-year-old were levelled after he defeated his compatriot Devin Haney by a majority decision on the DAZN PPV card.
At the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Ryan Garcia knocked down Devin Haney, the WBC World Super Lightweight Champion, three times on his way to winning on the judges scorecard 112-112, 114-110, 115-109. But, he couldn’t win the championship because he was overweight by a whopping 3.2 pounds going into it, which led to the officials declaring it a non-title bout.
As per the report from ESPN, citing a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) letter, Ryan Garcia has tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine in two urine tests, which were taken a day before and after his fight. It has been reported that Ostarine stimulates muscle growth, which is why it’s banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
After the news broke out, Ryan Garcia took to his official X account to post a video, and said, “Everybody knows that I don’t cheat…. Never taken a steroid. I don’t even know where to get steroids at the end of the day. I barely take supplements.”
Watch the clip of Ryan Garcia denying using steroids:
Devin Haney releases statement after Garcia's doping controversy
Devin Haney also weighed in on the situation regarding Ryan Garcia’s alleged positive drug test and said, “We learned about this situation not too long ago and 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.”
Haney also took to X and wrote, "Alhamdulillah.. Allah is the ultimate planner.. I will always trust his plan. Allahu Akbar"