Ryan Garcia was banned from boxing for one year due to his negative doping test and his victory over Devin Haney was declared void.
Garcia knocked down Haney three times en route to a points victory in April, but it was later revealed that he had failed two drug tests the week of the fight.
Garcia, who also cut weight before his fight against Haney, has now been banned from boxing for a year – starting April 20. Garcia will also reportedly have to forfeit his $1.1 million guaranteed prize money and pay $10,000 to the commission. Dan Rafael was the first to report the news.
Garcia, 25, has maintained his innocence since it was first announced that he tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine, and reiterated that statement on Thursday (June 20).
“Take away my win and add it to the list of shit I’m already going through,” the American tweeted. “I never f***ing cheated.”
“I really hope boxing will do well without me. I’ve fought everyone and I was ready to fight. They turned their backs on me, I’m innocent, I stand by that. I don’t care what anyone says. With a gun to my head, I’ll say I didn’t take any PEDs (performance enhancing drugs).”
“You have never been through what I have been through. I am innocent. You don’t know what I feel.”
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association conducted the tests, which returned negative results for Garcia. Meanwhile, the New York State Athletic Commission reached a settlement that annulled his victory against Haney and banned “King Ryan.”
Haney, 25, is now undefeated again after his loss to Garcia was overturned. The American is also still the WBC super-lightweight champion after Garcia’s botched weigh-in in April left him ineligible to win the title.
Garcia’s team said in a statement: “Ryan Garcia was the victim of a substance contamination in a concentration of billions and trillions of grams that gave him no advantage in the ring,” their statement began.
“Ryan and his legal team have resolved this issue and are sticking to the truth: he has never intentionally taken any banned substances. It is simply not in his nature.”
“Ryan has voluntarily submitted to random testing for many years, even out of competition, and has never had any problems. He has maintained an impeccable and clean record throughout his career, taking the sport of boxing to a significantly higher level and earning the respect and admiration of millions of fans around the world.
“The fans will always remember his performance against Haney as a masterpiece and that will never be erased.
“Ryan will continue to move the sport forward and actively advocate for reform. We hope that future changes to our system will address issues like this.
“We want to thank all the fans who have continued to support Ryan, not only in the great moments, but also in the difficult times that life brings. He will be back in the ring soon and better than ever!”
