Ryan Garcia’s B samples have both come back positive.
Garcia’s VADA tests from the day before and the day of his April 20 fight with Devin Haney both tested positive for Ostarine and on Thursday it was confirmed that the B-samples, which were opened on Wednesday, were both also positive.
What happens next will be down to the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) and the WBC, who oversaw Haney-Garcia.
The fight was at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and Garcia won having come in more than three pounds overweight at the weigh-in and then having dropped Haney in rounds seven, 10 and 11 on his way to earning a majority decision.
Haney has called on the NYSAC to overturn the decision; Garcia has consistently stated his innocence.
On Thursday Garcia took to social media and continued to make accusations that he has been set up. “I don’t care if I never make money again with boxing,” read one post on X. “Your loss, not mine. For setting me up. Lol joke on y’all.”
“The burden of proof is now 1,000 per cent on Ryan Garcia to prove where he got the exposure to Ostarine,” said Victor Conte, the former BALCO mastermind and doping expert who provides legal supplements and conditioning assistance to Haney.
“The strict liability rule requires him to prove that there was no intent to cheat and if he is unable to do so then I believe that he will be both fined and suspended by the NYSAC. The scientific process has been upheld and now we will see if Ryan can prove any of the wild and crazy rumors that he has been spewing at every opportunity.”
Asked about the “B” sample results, Haney’s attorney Pat English told BoxingScene: “No surprise there.”
So far a hearing date to determine Garcia’s fate – suspension time, fine amount or whether the outcome is altered to a no-contest or a disqualification that would give Haney a victory and Garcia a loss on their records – is yet to be set.
English is advocating for a minimum one-year suspension and a disqualification.
“He’s made a mockery of the rules and the commission,” he said. “Boxing is a dangerous sport… in this case, there was no equal playing field because Mr Garcia cheated by taking Ostarine and prohibited IVs,” English said.
“Anybody who doesn’t understand what he’s done by now is oblivious. I can’t even say this pulls the curtain back on him. It’s already been pulled back. He’s pulled it back himself.”
BoxingScene has reached out to the NYSAC and the WBC for comment. Neither has immediately responded.