Ryan Garcia was suspended for a year after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine – retroactively following his April 20 majority victory over Devin Haney, which was overturned by a no-contest – after the boxing star reached a settlement with the Commission Novel York State Athletic Association, the commission told ESPN on Thursday.

The commission found that Garcia, 25, also lost her purse. Sources say Garcia’s disclosed purse was $1.2 million and he will give up that amount, even though his guaranteed earnings were many millions more. The commission said it also fined Garcia $10,000.

Garcia (24-1-1 NC, 20 KO) knocked down Haney three times during the fight, in rounds 7, 10 and 11. Garcia was ineligible to win Haney’s WBC junior welterweight title and now Garcia will be sidelined for at least a year. Garcia’s attorney, Paul Greene, told ESPN last month that he hoped for a suspension of up to four months.

“I mean, I’d rather tell the truth than try to fabricate it with a lie, because lies have no power,” Garcia told ESPN last month, before the B sample came back positive. “So if I really took it [ostarine], I would think, “Honestly, I was going through a weird situation.” I wasn’t that confident. I decided to take it. Sorry.’ And that’s all. But that wasn’t the case and I hate cheating. … All I can say is the legal team, lend a hand me sort this out.

The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association conducted anti-doping tests, but did not impose a penalty. This decision belonged to the Novel York State Athletic Commission, according to whose regulations the fight took place.

Garcia and Haney signed up for VADA testing before the fight, meaning both boxers were randomly tested multiple times in the run-up. Athletes are required to submit whereabouts forms so collectors can find them anywhere.

“Who was caught doping and admitted it?” Haney said last month on “SportsCenter.” “I think he would be the first ever.”

According to ESPN BET, Haney was a -900 favorite before he entered the ring at -575 after Garcia was 3.2 pounds overweight. Haney was the No. 6 boxer ranked by ESPN in weight-for-pound, a skillful fighter who was the undisputed lightweight champion.

Haney (31-0-1NC, 15 KO) had never competed in 31 professional fights before facing Garcia. One judge scored it 112-112, but it was overturned by scorecards of 114-110 and 115-109 for Garcia.

What happens next after Garcia is suspended for a year?

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Why was Garcia suspended for a year?

Garcia avoided a hearing before the commission and instead agreed to a one-year suspension – a harsh punishment that will keep the boxing star from competing until April 20, 2025. Garcia already gave Haney $600,000 after he lost weight, and now he will lose another $1,210 000 dollars, bringing the total amount to 1,821,000 dollars.

“It’s a stark result,” Haney’s attorney, Pat English, told ESPN. English, who has worked in the boxing industry for over 40 years, has handled numerous PED cases. “I have never seen $1.2 million forfeited or anything like that.”

Since such a high-profile case was closely monitored, the commission certainly felt responsible for imposing a harsh punishment and proving that it did not favor the star boxer. She did just that, imposing a costly fine that she hopes will discourage future operate of PEDs.

When top boxing star Canelo Alvarez was suspended for six months in 2018 for the banned substance clenbuterol, the tiny episode was met with criticism. After all, most boxers at this level only compete twice a year anyway.

Garcia fought twice last year, losing by KO to Gervonta “Tank” Davis in April and winning by KO against Oscar Duarte in December.

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What was Garcia’s defense?

Under Novel York State Athletic Commission rules, when an athlete tests positive for a banned substance, he or she has the “right to a fair hearing” when “the athlete has the burden of presenting evidence to rebut the presumption of doping.” “

The Commission adheres to “strict accountability” in relation to doping.

“The fighter is responsible for everything he puts into his body,” we read in the regulations. “If a fighter takes supplements and later tests positive, it is his responsibility.

“Fighters should be aware that the supplement industry is poorly regulated and studies have shown that some supplements are contaminated with steroids. If a prohibited substance is detected in a veteran’s sample – even if it was unintentional – it will result in a violation of NYSAC policy.”

That’s exactly what Garcia claimed: replenish the pollution. However, it does not matter how the banned substance – in this case ostarine – entered Garcia’s body. This is still a violation of the rules.

Ostarine was detected in Garcia’s A sample after a urine test on April 19 (the day before the fight) and April 20. The B sample also later tested positive.

Greene acknowledged that Garcia’s actions had an “element of negligence” but argued that there was an “innocent mindset.” In other words, Garcia’s team did not dispute that an anti-doping rule violation had occurred.

“We understand that Ryan will be punished,” said Greene, founder of Global Sports Advocates, which has represented UFC stars Jon Jones and Sean O’Malley in doping cases. However, Greene also expected the sentence to be “the lowest possible in these cases.”

Garcia submitted doping control forms along with urine test results listing all the supplements he took. Laboratory tests later revealed that two of them – Raspberry-Lemonade-flavored NutraBio SuperCarb and BodyHealth’s Strawberry-Flavored Amino Acid Blend – later tested positive for ostarine.

However, the supplements sent to the lab by Garcia’s team were opened. On June 14, NutraBio rejected Garcia’s contamination claims.

“NutraBio has never manufactured a supplement containing ostarine and has never imported ostarine into our manufacturing facility for operate in any product,” the statement reads. “…Making defamatory statements about our product and brand based on test results conducted on unsealed, expired packaging used by the accused person is not credible.

“Furthermore, the tiny amount of ostarine allegedly detected in the open SuperCarb container does not explain the amount of ostarine detected in Ryan Garcia’s urine, which at a concentration of 6 ng/ml is 60 times the testing limit.”

Victor Conte, who works with Haney as a sports dietitian and performance consultant, told ESPN that “the test results simply cannot be authenticated because there is no supply chain.”

“Why do they test powders from unsealed supplement containers?” said Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, who served time in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs.

“In my opinion, it seems likely that there may have been manipulation. If results are to be considered reliable, they must begin by testing product samples from sealed containers with the same production numbers.”

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Can Garcia fight outside of Novel York while suspended?

The Association of Boxing Commissions (virtually every major athletic commission in the U.S.) honors any commission suspension in this group.

“I know I’ll find a way to fight,” Garcia told ESPN last month. “If I have to go to another country to fight, I will do it.… I just want to be in the ring. I’m in great shape. I feel fine. I feel mighty.”

That’s what Garcia will have to do, although most significant international commissions will likely recognize a ban. He will surely find a country to fight in given his star power and the business he generates.

However, in such a case, NYSAC can always impose an additional penalty.

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How does ostarine boost performance?

Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator that attaches to proteins in the body and effectively orders muscle growth. Supports performance by helping athletes build muscle mass, boost fat loss, boost endurance and recovery capacity.

Since 2008, Ostarine has been on the list of banned substances of the World Anti-Doping Agency, and in 2022 it was included by WADA on the list of anabolic agents.

“During a fight camp, athletes mainly lose a lot of pounds to reach an agreed upon weight class before the fight,” Conte told ESPN. “Ostarine can also be used during the weight loss phase. During the period of weight loss, people often resort to strict diets, mainly skipping conventional calorie intake.

“Ostarine has the ability to maintain both strength and muscle mass during caloric deficits. It has proven to be an ideal product for body strengthening cycles in which the goal is to build muscle mass while reducing excess fat.”

Ostarine is prohibited by the Commission at levels greater than 0.1 ng/ml. Last month, Conte posted on X that Garcia’s ostarine level was 6 ng/ml, which is 60 times the legal threshold.

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Has ostarine been linked to any other notable players?

British boxing star Amir Khan has been banned for two years by the British Anti-Doping Organization after testing positive for ostarine following his sixth-round TKO loss to Kell Brook in Manchester in February 2022. Khan has not competed since then.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended O’Malley for six months after testing positive for ostarine in May 2018. The following year, he was suspended for nine months when ostarine was again found in his system.

All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tested positive for ostarine in 2022. Former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Taylor Lewan also tested positive for the same substance in 2019, as well as multiple Clemson players ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinals against Notre Dame in 2018