Devin Haney has expressed his disappointment and frustration regarding Ryan Garcia’s positive drug tests and Garcia’s subsequent denial of the results.
Garcia tested positive for the banned substance ostarine in both a pre-fight and post-fight test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) on April 19 and April 20, respectively. Despite the findings, Garcia denied the results on social media platforms.
In response to the news, Haney released a statement condemning Garcia’s actions and emphasizing the seriousness of the situation:
“We learned about this situation not too long ago and it’s unfortunate Ryan cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty and breaking positive not once, but twice,” Haney stated in a message shared with ESPN and on his Instagram stories.
“I’ve always been an advocate for clean fighting, and this is an example of such. Ryan owes the fans an apology, and by his recent tweet, he still thinks this is a joke. We put our lives on the line to entertain people for a living. We don’t play boxing. This puts the fight in a completely different light. Despite the disadvantage, I still fought on my shield and got back up.”
Haney stressed gravity of situation by reminding everyone of the potential dangers in boxing, stating, “People die in this sport. This is not a joking matter.”
In addition to the positive drug tests, Garcia also missed weight for the fight. Rendering him ineligible to win Haney’s WBC super lightweight title. The circumstances surrounding the bout have added a layer of complexity and controversy to the already heated rivalry between Haney and Garcia.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Garcia’s victory will stand, as he has 10-day window to request B-sample tests. Despite the setback, the loss marked Haney’s first defeat in his professional boxing career after winning his first 31 bouts.
