After his shocking win over Devin Haney. american professional boxer Ryan Garcia has is back in the spotlight. However, for a stark different reason then his impressive victory over Haney. It was revealed that he has failed a drug test. This shocking revelation has cast a shadow over what was considered the biggest win of Garcia’s career.
Garcia, who had already faced criticism for missing weight ahead of the bout, tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine. The test results were reportedly positive on April 19, the day before the fight, and on April 20 during his post-fight evaluation4. This news has raised questions about the legitimacy of Garcia’s victory and the integrity of the sport.
Ryan Garcia failed his doping test the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney, per a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association letter obtained by @MikeCoppinger.
The banned substance is Ostarine. Ryan Garcia has 10 days to request his B-sample be tested. pic.twitter.com/bvwsDTUjWT
— ESPN (@espn) May 2, 2024
What is Ostarine? Why is it used by Boxers
Ostarine, also known as Enobosarm, is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that is often used by athletes for its muscle-building properties. It is a banned substance in professional sports due to its performance-enhancing effects.
According to WebMD, “Ostarine is an investigational drug and therefore not approved for any use by the US FDA. Despite this, it is still sometimes found in dietary supplements, particularly those marketed for bodybuilding. Ostarine, along with other SARMS, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).”
The drug is commonly used by bodybuilding and combat athletes to build up muscle without adding any water weight or fat to the body. Also, this is a common ingredient in some supplements
The PED Ostarine has been used in boxing before. Lucian Bute tested positive for the banned substance in 2016 following a draw with Badou Jack in their WBC super middleweight title fight. The result was changed to a DQ win for Jack.
Amir Khan was handed a two-year ban by UK… https://t.co/dPQ4Suz3AK
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) May 2, 2024
What did Ryan Garcia say about the allegation?
Ryan Garcia is looking surprisingly upbeat and is not taking the allegations seriously. He went a step ahead to make fun of the PED use allegation on X (formerly Twitter)
My bad I shouldn’t have took this pic.twitter.com/WDgWkMMyOr
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) May 2, 2024
Despite his denial, the boxing community awaits the results of the B-sample test, which could potentially overturn the result of the fight. As the boxing world waits for further developments, the future of Ryan Garcia’s career hangs in the balance. If the B-sample test confirms the presence of Ostarine, it could lead to a suspension and the overturning of his victory over Devin Haney.
This incident has brought the issue of doping in sports, particularly boxing, into sharp focus. It underscores the need for stringent testing protocols and harsh penalties for those found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs. The integrity of the sport depends on a level playing field where athletes compete based on their skill and training, not on the substances they ingest.