Boxer Ryan Garcia has been handed a one-year suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug (PED) ostarine. The decision, reported by multiple media outlets on Thursday, has significant repercussions for Garcia’s recent career milestones.
New York State Athletic Commission Suspends Garcia
Garcia’s victory over Devin Haney on April 20 in Brooklyn has been retroactively declared a no contest. This decision strips Garcia of his $1.1 million purse and imposes a $10,000 fine, the maximum allowable penalty under New York state law. Consequently, Haney’s professional record is restored to 31-0, while Garcia’s record now stands at 24-1.
Both athletes, aged 25, were poised at the pinnacle of their careers. Haney expressed gratitude towards the commission and his supporters, stating to ESPN, “The facts are the facts, and I wasn’t on an even playing field. Happy I was able to receive justice for what happened. It’s all part of my story and it’s only going to make me better.”
Garcia, addressing the situation on social media, lamented, “They took my victory away,” adding, “It’s okay, I’m retired. I’ll come back in a year,” referencing his earlier announcement of retiring from boxing.
The Legal and Regulatory Process
The suspension of Garcia came as a result of a settlement between his legal team and the NYSAC. The details, confirmed to the Guardian by a commission source, include the reclassification of Garcia’s win over Haney as a no contest, thus reinstating Haney’s undefeated status.
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Veteran boxing reporter Dan Rafael was the first to break the news of Garcia’s suspension. Garcia’s punishment includes forfeiting his $1.1 million fight purse to Golden Boy Promotions and paying a $10,000 fine to the commission.
Haney’s comments to ESPN emphasized the importance of integrity in boxing. “I’m a clean athlete and boxing is a brutal sport where one fight can literally change your life. I think it’s important for fighters to be clean, and I want to become an advocate for clean athletes from my experience in this situation,” Haney said.
Impact on Garcia’s Career and Reputation
The detection of ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator, in Garcia’s system has not only led to his suspension but also cast a shadow over his career achievements. Ostarine, which is considered a safer alternative to steroids, appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s 2024 Prohibited List. Garcia’s suspension follows the precedent set by previous doping cases, such as Amir Khan’s two-year ban after testing positive for ostarine in 2022.
The dramatic bout in April, where Garcia scored three knockdowns against Haney, initially marked a significant upset in the boxing world. However, the revelation of his PED use and the subsequent reclassification of the match nullify what was seen as a career-defining victory.