Boxer Ryan Garcia Suspended for Doping Violation After Career-Defining Win

Ryan Garcia has reached a settlement with the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) over his recent failed drug tests. Garcia tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine in samples taken the day before and the day of his career-best victory over Devin Haney in April.

The troubled boxer, who had already alarmed fans with a series of concerning social media posts and was recently arrested for felony vandalism in Beverly Hills, has steadfastly claimed his innocence, attributing the positive results to 'supplement contamination.'

Despite his protests, Garcia has agreed to settle the long-running doping scandal with the NYSAC. The agreement includes a lengthy ban from the New York commission.

According to boxing journalist Dan Rafael, Garcia has accepted a one-year suspension from the sport, forfeiture of his $1.1 million purse from the Haney fight—of which his rival may claim a percentage—and a $10,000 fine. Additionally, Garcia's victory over Haney will be officially changed to a no-contest, preserving Haney's undefeated record. Garcia's promotional outfit, Golden Boy Promotions, is set to receive his forfeited fight purse.

At 25 years old, Garcia now faces a 12-month hiatus from the ring due to the failed tests, which only came to light weeks after his emphatic win against Haney.

Following the settlement, Garcia and his team released a statement maintaining his innocence and blaming 'substance contamination' for the failed tests. The statement reads:

"Ryan Garcia was a victim of substance contamination, with levels measured in the billions and trillions of a gram, providing no advantage in the ring. Ryan, with his legal team, has resolved this issue and firmly maintains his truth: he never intentionally took any banned substance. It's simply not in his nature.

For many years, Ryan has voluntarily submitted to random testing, even during out-of-competition periods, and has never had any issues. He has maintained an impeccable and clean record throughout his career, significantly elevating and transcending the sport of boxing, earning respect and admiration from millions of fans worldwide. 

The fans will always remember his performance against Haney as a masterclass, and that will never be erased. Ryan will continue to elevate the sport and will be actively involved in advocating for reform. We hope future changes in our system will address issues like this one. 

We want to thank all of the fans who have continued to support Ryan, not only during the great moments but also through the difficult times that life brings. He will be back in the ring soon and better than ever!"

Garcia's recent troubles have not been limited to the doping scandal. After coming in nearly four pounds over the super-lightweight limit, Garcia delivered the finest performance of his career to defeat Haney, knocking him down three times en route to a points victory. However, this win has been nullified due to his positive tests for Ostarine in two separate samples, including a requested B-sample.

Adding to his tumultuous period, Garcia announced his retirement from boxing this week amid a lawsuit from online star Logan Paul and his mother's battle with breast cancer. Last month, Paul's energy drink brand, Prime, filed a defamation lawsuit against Garcia in Texas, following an Instagram post where Garcia accused Paul of harmful behavior.

Garcia also shared the news of his mother Lisa's breast cancer diagnosis earlier this month. In a candid social media post, he expressed the weight of his current struggles:

"Mom has cancer. I’m being sued. My supplements were tainted. Going through a divorce. Always getting s**t talked on the internet for years. Devin asking for my victory to be taken away. I’m getting hit with everything. I still love God; He is everything. Not asking for sympathy. I’m asking for war. I’m only going to bring more vengeance. In the end, these are worldly problems. Jesus loves me, and in the end, that’s all that matters."

Despite these challenges, Garcia remains determined to return to the ring and continue his boxing career.