Ryan Garcia, the rising star in the world of boxing, has been hit with a one-year suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) following his positive drug tests after his victory over Devin Haney in April. The confirmation of the suspension came from The Athletic, who also reported that Garcia will lose his victory over Haney as part of the punishment.
In addition to the suspension, Garcia will have to forfeit his purse winnings of $1 million to Golden Boy Promotions and pay a fine of $10,000 to NYSAC. The commission stated that his professional boxer license will remain suspended until April 20, 2025, or until he provides a clean urinalysis.
The NYSAC emphasized that they are committed to upholding the highest professional standards and protecting the integrity of all sports under their jurisdiction. This punishment serves as a strong message that doping will not be tolerated in boxing.
Garcia’s victory over Haney was a significant moment in his career and one of the biggest surprises in boxing this year. Haney, who entered the bout as the undefeated WBC super lightweight champion, was expected to win. However, Garcia’s victory was overshadowed by his failure to make weight, coming in 3.2 pounds over the agreed-upon limit of 140 pounds. This made him ineligible to win the title.
Following news of Garcia’s suspension, he took to social media and posted a picture of him fighting Haney with a derogatory caption. The post was quickly deleted, but it only added fuel to the fire and showcased a lack of remorse or understanding of the seriousness of his actions.
Haney, on the other hand, expressed gratitude towards the commission for taking appropriate action. He also expressed his confusion regarding Golden Boy Promotions receiving any money from Garcia’s purse winnings and criticized their silence on the PED situation.
Further investigations revealed that Garcia had tested positive for ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug, the day before the fight. His pre-fight sample also screened positive for 19-norandrosterone. These findings seriously undermine Garcia’s claims of innocence and raise questions about his integrity as an athlete.
Just a day before news of his suspension broke, Garcia announced on social media that he was “officially retired” from boxing. It is unclear whether he was aware of the impending punishment when he made this announcement. However, in subsequent posts, Garcia vehemently denied any wrongdoing and expressed frustration with the system.
Haney, despite being robbed of a legitimate victory, remains eager for a rematch with Garcia. He intends to take matters into his own hands by fighting at whatever weight he chooses, no longer bound by weight classes.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against doping in sports and the need for stringent testing and severe consequences for those who violate the rules. It also highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport and protecting it from those who seek to gain an unfair advantage.
In conclusion, Ryan Garcia’s suspension and loss of his victory over Devin Haney are significant blows to his career. The subsequent revelations of his positive drug tests further tarnish his reputation as a professional boxer. It remains to be seen whether Garcia will learn from this experience and make the necessary changes to regain the trust of fans and the boxing community.