Star boxer Ryan Garcia's B-sample returned an adverse finding for the banned substance ostarine on Thursday, according to a Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory report obtained by ESPN.
The A-sample, collected the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney last month, also tested positive for ostarine on May 1.
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that binds to proteins in the body, promoting muscle growth. It helps athletes build muscle mass, enhance fat loss, and improve stamina and recovery. Ostarine has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2008 and was categorized as an anabolic agent in 2022. WADA's protocols require dividing urine samples into A and B bottles to prevent lab errors.
"I don't know where [the adverse finding] came from," Garcia told ESPN on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hours before attending Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight title win over Tyson Fury. "Honestly, bro, I don't. I was taking ashwagandha, D-3, Omega-3, just normal stuff. I don't know what ostarine is. ... I have seriously no idea. I would tell everybody the truth."
"My whole thing is I'd rather tell the truth than lie. Lies don't stand. If I had taken it, I would admit it. But I didn't, and I hate cheating. ... My legal team is helping me figure this out."
Darin Chavez, part of Garcia's legal team, stated that a formal hearing with the New York State Athletic Commission will be scheduled to clear Garcia of any wrongdoing.
"Soon after being notified of his positive test, Ryan voluntarily had his hair collected and analyzed by Dr. Pascal Kintz, an expert in toxicology and hair-sample analysis," Chavez said. "The results came back negative. ... We are certain that one of the natural supplements Ryan used before the fight was contaminated. We are testing the supplements to identify the source."
The commission issued a statement on Thursday indicating that the matter is under review.
"The Commission strictly prohibits performance-enhancing drugs and works to uphold the integrity of the sport," the statement said. "Violations will be met with action."
If Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) and his team can prove supplement contamination, he may be cleared. Otherwise, he faces suspension and fines.
Garcia, who floored Haney three times in his majority-decision win, criticized Victor Conte, Haney's sports nutritionist and performance adviser.
"This guy defending Devin Haney is the biggest cheater in sports history," Garcia said. Conte, the founder of Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), served time in prison for distributing performance-enhancing drugs and now runs SNAC, a sports nutrition company.
"Ryan Garcia has called me many names," Conte told ESPN. "However, both of his urine B-samples tested positive for ostarine. The strict liability rule applies, and he will likely be fined and suspended. I hope Ryan's behavior serves as an example of how not to act during drug testing uncertainties. ... Boxing deserves respect as a sport."
Ostarine has a history in boxing. Lucian Bute tested positive for it in 2016, leading to a DQ win for Badou Jack. Amir Khan received a two-year ban from UK Anti-Doping after testing positive for ostarine following his 2022 loss to Kell Brook.
"It's been tough," Garcia said. "I've been talking, but it's been hurting me, and I feel like crying. They're taking my greatest victory away. But I leave it in God's hands. ... I fight for my innocence every day. I've been giving them the facts."
"I will find a way to fight," Garcia added about a possible suspension. "If I have to
fight in a different country, I will. ... I just want to be in the ring. I'm in my prime and feel strong."
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