Ryan Garcia's recent win over Devin Haney is now under the microscope after reports surfaced that he tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug.
The test was conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) ahead of their fight, where Garcia won by majority decision. According to reports, Garcia tested positive for Ostarine, a substance known for enhancing muscle growth.
ESPN's Mike Coppinger also reported that Ryan Garcia's initial test suggested the presence of another banned substance, 19-norandrosterone, though this has not been confirmed. Garcia has 10 days to request further testing of his B-sample to verify or refute the results.
Garcia, 25, delivered an impressive performance against Haney at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn last month, scoring three knockdowns. However, Garcia was 3.2 pounds over the weight limit during the weigh-in, which meant that the WBC super lightweight title was not on the line. Despite Haney’s loss, he retained the belt and now holds a 31-1 record with 15 KOs.
The positive test results have sparked frustration from Devin Haney Sr., who believes they played fair and are upset about the possible doping. Haney's father, Devin Haney, spoke with Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix on Wednesday, and he was furious.
"You trying to hurt my baby. We played it fair," Devin Haney said. "We didn't do it like that. F**k boxing, this is some bulls**t. I came from the streets. You scared of Devin on a level playing field. I feel f***ed up over this.
"If you can brag about doing it, you shouldn't be on drugs."
Garcia quickly took to social media to deny the allegations, claiming he "beat Devin Haney fair and square." In a live broadcast, he questioned the timing of the news and suggested the reports were dubious.
"It's the weirdest s**t ever," he said. "Supposedly they had it already, then they release it after I win? It makes no sense ... I tested the day of the fight, all of the sudden it came out. Bulls**t. Bro, somebody paying somebody ... This is definitely fake news. 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 the 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 going to keep trolling this s**t, this s**t is f***ing hilarious. At the end of the day, I'm definitely innocent."
Garcia also insisted that he "beat Devin Haney fair and square."
"He could suck my d**k," Garcia said on the broadcast. "All you motherf***ers that say I cheated, you guys can all suck my d**k. I didn't f***ing cheat a day in my life. Never have, never will. I don't move like that. Facts."
Garcia's win over Haney pits him at 25-1 in his career. This controversy leaves Garcia's future uncertain, with many questions hanging over the recent win. The boxing world awaits further developments as the investigation continues.