Ryan Garcia upset the odds to beat Devin Haney in April. The victory lap was short-lived when it was revealed the 25-year-old had twice tested positive for a banned substance.
Fans and analysts were worried by Garcia’s behaviour in the build-up to the fight, and didn’t approve of him coming in 3lbs over weight making him ineligible to win Haney’s WBC belt and forcing last-minute talks to ensure the fight went ahead.
He won on the night, knocking heavy favourite Haney down three times and snatching his undefeated record via majority decision. It was a revealed just over a week later that Garcia has tested positive for Ostarine in urine samples on the day before and the day of the fight.
In an interview with Say Cheese, WBC Lightweight Champion and potential future Garcia foe, Shakur Stevenson, said he suspected foul play when watching the fight.
“Honestly, if you’re asking me from what I seen, I already was thinking that s**t before they even said that s**t.
I was already like man that s**t don’t look right just because of the fact that… Ryan punch hard, he do punch hard, but there was certain punches that wasn’t that hard, they would be close with no leverage of power, and then Devin would fall. I’m like that ain’t even look like a super hard shot.
Looking back on it, if I’m judging basing off the fight, then yeah it looked like Ryan definitely was on something.”
Garcia’s team claim contamination is the cause of the doping test results and say the amounts found in his system couldn’t have provided any advantage. The New York State Athletic Commission are expected to have a hearing to decide any further action.
