Rising boxing star Ryan Garcia has been suspended for one yr by the New York State Athletic Fee after testing constructive for ostarine, a prohibited performance-enhancing substance.
The choice, reported by ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, comes within the aftermath of Garcia’s controversial victory over Devin Haney.
The bout, which happened on April 20, 2024, initially noticed Garcia, 25, emerge victorious by majority choice, handing Haney his first skilled defeat.
Nevertheless, the fee’s ruling has far-reaching penalties past the suspension. Garcia’s win has been overturned and reclassified as a no contest, successfully restoring Haney’s unblemished report of 31-0.
The controversy started in early Could when stories surfaced suggesting Garcia had failed drug exams each earlier than and on the day of the struggle.
Regardless of these allegations, Garcia vehemently denied any wrongdoing, taking to social media to proclaim his innocence. “Everyone is aware of I don’t cheat,” he posted on X (previously Twitter), including that he’s “by no means taken a steroid.”
The fee’s choice carries important monetary repercussions for Garcia. Along with the year-long ban, he should forfeit $1 million of his earnings to Golden Boy Promotions and pay a $10,000 superb.
On Wednesday, Garcia took to X to announce his retirement from boxing. “I’m formally retired,” he said.
This declaration got here shortly after he posted “I’m outty” and “I’ll retire I’m accomplished with this recreation” in separate messages.
Garcia additionally expressed frustration with the game, saying, “There’s a lot corruption I’m over it” and that “boxing will likely be alright with out me.”
He continued by stating that the boxing world will likely be “alright with out me.”
In the meantime, Haney, talking to ESPN in regards to the ruling, expressed gratitude and reduction: “I need to thank the fee and the followers who stood by me throughout this complete course of. The information are the information and I wasn’t on a fair enjoying discipline. Glad I used to be capable of obtain justice for what occurred. It’s all a part of my story and it’s solely going to make me higher. I look to get pleasure from this time with my household and associates and see what’s subsequent.”
This improvement marks a major flip within the careers of each fighters and raises questions in regards to the ongoing challenges of sustaining integrity in skilled boxing.
