MMA/UFC

Ryan Garcia tests positive for banned substance in Devin Haney fight, Garcia responds

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Devin Haney v Ryan Garcia
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Ryan Garcia‘s saga with Devin Haney is not over.

Garcia tested positive the banned substance ostarine in two drug tests with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in relation to his April 20 bout against Haney. Veteran boxing reporter Dan Rafael first broke the news on Wednesday. Garcia tested positive in a pre-fight urine test on April 19 as well as a post-fight urine test on April 20.

Garcia also “screened positive but was not confirmed” for 19-Norandrosterone — a metabolite of nandrolone and bolandione — in his April 19 sample, which is pending further analysis via Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS).

Ostarine is a banned selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that has been commonly linked to several tainted supplement cases in the past.

Garcia, 25, defeated Haney in a shockingly thorough bout, knocking down the WBC champ three times en route to a majority decision win. Garcia responded to the news on Wednesday by vigorously denying any performance-enhancing drug use.

“Fake f*cking news,” Garcia said on X Spaces. “Don’t believe these f*ckers, bro. I never f*cking took a steroid in my f*cking life. … If they had this information, they should’ve released this before the fight went down. Because why would you let a cheater step into the ring? Right? All of a sudden I win and then you release it? Seems kind of fishy to me. I know in my heart of hearts I didn’t cheat, so I’m gonna keep trolling this shit. This shit is f*cking hilarious. At the end of the day, I’m definitely innocent.

“They’re cheating by trying to take my victory. F*ck them. F*ck these motherf*ckers. Tell them to suck my d*ck. I beat Devin Haney fair and square. You can suck my d*ck. All you motherf*ckers that say I cheated, you guys can all suck my d*ck. I didn’t f*cking cheat a day in my life. Never have, never f*cking will. I don’t move like that. Facts.”

Garcia also posted a video maintaining his innocence as well as a photo of “Ashwagandha root” with the message, “My bad I shouldn’t have took this.”

Several of Garcia’s posts can be seen below.

Garcia has a 10-day window to request a testing of his B samples.

It is currently unknown how Wednesday’s news will effect the result of Garcia vs. Haney, however Garcia could be subject to a fine as well as a suspension, and his victory could be overturned into a no-contest.

MMA Fighting will continue to update this story as it develops.

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