What’s next for Ryan Garcia after his one-year suspension for performance-enhancing drugs?

Ryan Garcia has been suspended for one year following his positive test for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine – retroactive to his April 20 victory over Devin Haney by majority decision, which was converted to a no-contest ruling – after the boxing star reached a settlement with the New York State Athletic Commission, the commission told ESPN on Thursday.

Garcia, 25, also lost his purse, the commission said. Sources said Garcia’s disclosed purse was $1.2 million, and he will forfeit that sum, even though his guaranteed income was several million more. The commission said it also fined Garcia $10,000.

Garcia (24-1-1NC, 20 KOs) knocked Haney down 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 he hoped for a suspension of four months or less.

“My whole thing is I’d rather tell the truth than try to make it up with a lie because lies don’t stick,” Garcia told ESPN last month before the B sample came back positive. “So if I really had taken (Ostarine), I would say, ‘Honestly, I was in a weird situation. I wasn’t really that confident. I decided to take it. I’m sorry.’ And that’s it. But I didn’t, and I hate cheating. … All I can say is, ‘Legal team, help me figure this out.'”

The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association conducted the doping tests but did not impose any penalties. This was the responsibility of the New York State Athletic Commission, under whose rules the fight was held.

Garcia and Haney underwent VADA testing before their fight, meaning both boxers were randomly tested multiple times beforehand. Athletes are required to submit residency forms so collectors can find them everywhere.

“Who got caught doping and admitted it?” Haney asked on SportsCenter last month. “I think he would have been the first in history.”

Haney was a favorite as much as -900 according to ESPN BET before entering the ring at -575 after Garcia came in 3.2 pounds overweight. Haney was ESPN’s No. 6 boxer in pound-for-pound terms, a smooth fighter and undisputed lightweight champion.

Haney (31-0-1NC, 15 KOs) had never been on the mat in 31 professional fights before facing Garcia. A judge scored the fight evenly, 112-112, but was overruled by scorecards for Garcia of 114-110 and 115-109.

What’s next after Garcia is suspended for a year?

Why was Garcia banned for a year?

Garcia avoided a hearing before the commission and instead accepted a one-year suspension, a harsh punishment that will bar the star boxer from competition until April 20, 2025. Garcia has already had to forfeit $600,000 to Haney after failing to make weight and will now forfeit another $1,210,000, bringing the total to $1,821,000.

“This is a tough result,” Haney’s attorney Pat English told ESPN. English, who has been involved in boxing for over 40 years, has handled numerous performance-enhancing substance cases. “I have never seen $1.2 million or even close to that amount withheld.”

With such a high-profile case being closely watched, the Commission certainly felt obliged to impose a severe penalty and prove that it was not favoring any star boxer. That is exactly what it did with a costly penalty that it hopes will deter the use of performance-enhancing substances in the future.

When boxing star Canelo Alvarez was banned for six months in 2018 for using the banned substance clenbuterol, he faced criticism. After all, most boxers at this level only compete twice a year anyway.

Garcia fought twice last year, a KO loss to Gervonta “Tank” Davis in April and a KO win over Oscar Duarte in December.

How did Garcia defend himself?

Under New York State Athletic Commission rules, a fighter who tests positive for a banned substance has the “right to a fair hearing” in which “the burden of proof is on the athlete to disprove the suspicion of doping.”

With regard to doping, the Commission is of the opinion that strict liability applies.

“The fighter is responsible for everything he puts into his body,” the rules state. “If the fighter takes nutritional supplements and later receives a positive test result, the responsibility lies with the fighter.”

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