Ryan Garcia has been banned from boxing for a year and forced to forfeit the $1.1 million (£870,000) prize money he earned after defeating Devin Haney. The series of penalties comes after a 25-year-old tested positive for a banned substance.
On Thursday, Garcia and his legal team agreed with the Up-to-date York State Athletic Commission to suspend him for at least one full year. The outspoken boxer will also be forced to repay winnings from his April win over Haney and pay a maximum state fine of $10,000 (£7,900).
Following his dominant in-ring performances, Garcia tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory revealed that doping control forms showed the presence of Ostarine, which was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2008.
Ostarine attaches to androgen receptors, proteins in the body, which in turn leads to muscle growth. Although the drug is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it can be found in some supplements. Garcia initially claimed his positive test result was the result of a misunderstanding, claiming he accidentally ingested Ostarine from NutraBIO’s super-carb raspberry lemonade and Strawberry-flavored Body Heath Perfect Amino.
Due to unclear test results, Garcia’s victory was officially declared inconclusive. Taking to social media shortly after the news was announced on Thursday, Haney praised the adjustment to the fight result.
“I also thank the Commission for doing the right thing and making the right decision,” he wrote. “I don’t understand how Golden Boy can get any money if he took any punches. They didn’t even comment on the PED situation.” As for what should be done with the $1.1 million Garcia is now forced to hand out, Haney argued: “I… VADA and the Commission should share that money.”
The day before the NYSAC settlement, Garcia announced he was leaving boxing. His shock decision apparently softened the blow of a one-year ban from sports, as he wrote in X: “I’ve already retired, so I’ll come out of retirement for a year.”
Garcia continues to maintain his innocence, saying he has never taken steroids in his life. “Nothing that was in my system was enough for anyone!!!!!! That’s why I’m done with a game that I never ——– cheated on,” he added.
It appears Garcia already has a up-to-date venture in his sights while serving his one-year suspension. In a flurry of tweets sent after the news broke, he flirted with a potential next fight in the UFC Octagon.
“I’m going to the UFC,” Garcia wrote, before adding: “Dana I want my 50g” and “Dana White really hit me.”