Boxing champ Ryan Garcia has been suspended for one year after he reached a settlement with the New York State Athletic Commission following his positive tests for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine.
Last month it was revealed that Garcia’s A-sample, collected the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney last month, returned postivie for ostarine May 1. His B-sample also tested positive.
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) that attaches to proteins in the body and effectively signals for muscles to grow. It is used to aid performance by helping athletes build muscle mass and enhance their rate of fat loss, as well as to increase stamina and recovery ability.
The suspension is retroactive to Garcia’s April 20 decision victory over Devin Haney, which has been overturned to a no-contest.
Garcia also forfeited his $1.2 million purse and he was fined $10,000.
“Ryan, with his legal team, has resolved this issue and firmly maintains his truth: he never intentionally took any banned substance,” Team Garcia said in a statement. “It’s simply not in his nature. … The fans will always remember his performance against Haney as a masterclass, and that will never be erased.”
