As we await an official testing of Ryan Garcia’s B-sample following initial reports that he tested positive for banned substance Ostarine leading into his fight with Devin Haney, Haney has formally sent a letter to the New York State Athletic Commission where he looks to go beyond having the official decision declared a no contest.
Instead, Haney would like to have the official result overturned to a disqualification win on his behalf, as reported by ESPN. In the letter it’s argued that Garcia fought with unfair advantages not only based upon the failed drug test, but because he came in over the contracted weight limit and allegedly used IVs without a therapeutic-use exemption.
Garcia has completely denied the claims of doping, but did admit coming in overweight as a tactic — which is something Haney agreed to overlook in exchange for monetary compensation at the time.
For Haney to request an official win on his record in this instance feels like a step too far but his lawyer argues precedent, pointing to a 2016 contest between Lucian Bute and Badou Jack where that was the ultimate outcome.
Indications as to where this all goes from here should become a bit more clear when Garcia’s B-sample is officially tested on May 22, although Garcia has already proclaimed his vindication.