Prizefighter Ryan Garcia banned for one year for performance-enhancing drugs

The New York State Athletic Commission has announced its decision to suspend Golden Boy boxer Ryan Garcia for testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine. NYSAC Boxing announced that Garcia has been suspended from boxing for one year.

Garcia, 25, claims he never intentionally took the drug and was the victim of “dietary supplement contamination.” The boxer lost $1.1 million for his last win against Devin Haney in April. Garcia must also pay a $10,000 fine to the commission.

Since his majority decision win over Haney on April 20, Garcia’s season has been turbulent, between failing a drug test and the recent announcement of his retirement.

The latest news follows Garcia’s series of cryptic posts on Wednesday in which he announced his intention to immediately retire from boxing.

Details of Garcia’s suspension now show that the former interim WBC lightweight champion has agreed to a settlement with the NYSAC boxing association.

DALLAS – Ryan Garcia in action during a media workout at World Class Boxing Gym on April 9, 2024. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

His legal team released a statement about the boxer’s alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs at X.

“Ryan Garcia was the victim of substance contamination,” the statement said. “The concentration was in the billions and trillions of grams, which gave him no advantage in the ring. Ryan and his legal team have resolved this matter and are sticking to the truth: he never intentionally ingested a banned substance. It is simply not in his nature.”

The statement continued: “I want to thank the commission and the fans who stood by me throughout the process,” Haney, who is back to a 31-0 record, said in a phone interview with ESPN on Thursday. “Facts are facts and I was not given an equal opportunity. I am glad I was able to get justice for what happened. This is all part of my story and will only make me better. I look forward to enjoying this time with my family and friends and seeing what comes next.”

“I am a clean athlete and boxing is a brutal sport where one fight can literally change your life. I think it’s important for fighters to be clean and I want to become an advocate for clean athletes because of my experiences in this situation.”

(Has Ryan Garcia finally quit boxing? Send us your opinion: [email protected])

NEW YORK – Ryan Garcia (white pants) reacts against Devin Haney (gray pants) during their WBC super lightweight title fight at Barclays Center on April 20, 2024. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

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