June 20, (THEWILL) – After his April victory over Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia received a one-year suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for positive performance-enhancing drug tests. The commission confirmed on Thursday that Garcia’s win against Haney will be nullified as part of the punishment. Additionally, Garcia must forfeit his $1 million purse to Golden Boy Promotions and pay a $10,000 fine to NYSAC.
The NYSAC stated that Garcia’s professional boxer licence in New York State will remain suspended until April 20 next year, or until he provides a clean urinalysis to the commission. This decision underscores the NYSAC’s commitment to upholding high professional standards and protecting the integrity of sports under its jurisdiction.
Garcia’s victory over Haney was considered the biggest boxing upset of the year and arguably the most significant win of Garcia’s career. Haney entered the bout as the undefeated WBC super lightweight champion. The fight proceeded despite Garcia weighing 3.2 pounds over the agreed 140-pound limit, making him ineligible for the title. With the suspension, Haney will retain both his championship belt and his undefeated record, as the loss is now classified as a no-contest.
The positive drug tests revealed the presence of ostarine in Garcia’s system the day before the victory, with his pre-fight sample also reportedly screening positive for 19-norandrosterone. This revelation comes amidst a turbulent period for Garcia, who announced his retirement from boxing on Wednesday in a series of social media posts detailing his recent struggles. It remains unclear whether Garcia was aware of the impending disciplinary action when he shared these posts.
In response to the suspension, Garcia took to social media to defend himself, stating, “Nothing that was in my system was enough for any!!!!!!! This is why I’m done with the game. I never F’ing cheated. F YOU”. Meanwhile, Haney expressed gratitude towards the commission for their decision and questioned Golden Boy Promotions’ involvement in the financial aspects of the punishment. Haney also reiterated his desire for a rematch once Garcia’s suspension is served.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
