Report: Ryan Garcia tested positive for banned substance before Devin Haney fight

Ryan Garcia failed two drug tests taken before his fight with Devin Haney on April 20 in Brooklyn, New York, ESPN is reporting.

The 140-pound contender tested positive for the performance enhancing drug Ostarine, according to a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association letter obtained by ESPN.

Garcia was tested the day before and on the day of the fight, which Garcia won by a majority decision. The results weren’t known until afterward.

The fighter must submit a request within 10 days if he wants to have his B-sample tested.

ESPN also reported that he screened positive for the steroid 19-Norandrosterone, although that result hadn’t been confirmed.

Garcia responded to the news in a video posted to X.

“Everybody knows that I don’t cheat,” he said. “… Never taken a steroid. … I don’t even know where to get steroids. … I barely take supplements. Big lies, I beat his ass.”

Golden Boy, his promoter, said in a statement: “Ryan has put out multiple statements denying knowingly using any banned substances — and we believe him. We are working with his team to determine how this finding came to be and will address this further once we conclude that process.”

Haney sent a statement to ESPN.

“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,” he said.

“… Ryan owes the fans an apology, and by his recent tweet he still thinks this is a joke. We put our lives on the line to entertain people for a living. You don’t play boxing.

“This puts the fight in a completely different light. Despite the disadvantage, I still fought on my shield and got back up! People die in this sport. This isn’t a joking matter.”

Indeed it isn’t. Lucian Bute tested positive for Ostarine following a draw with Badou Jack in 2016 in Washington, D.C., leading authorities to hand Jack a victory by disqualification. And Amir Khan received a two-year ban after testing positive for the PED following his loss to Kell Brook in 2022 in the United Kingdom.

Garcia could lose his victory, face a fine and be suspended if the New York State Athletic Commission concurs with the finding of VADA.

Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) stunned the boxing world by putting the previously unbeaten Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) down three times en route to winning a decision.