After reports surfaced that boxer Ryan Garcia had tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine, he took to social media to vehemently deny any wrongdoing. The 25-year-old fighter, who recently defeated Devin Haney in a high-profile match, faced accusations of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Garcia's victory over Haney on April 20 was marred by the revelation that he had tested positive for Ostarine, a substance known for its muscle growth-stimulating properties. Despite his impressive performance in the ring, Garcia's win could now be in jeopardy due to the positive drug test results.
In a video posted online, Garcia adamantly refuted the allegations, stating, “Everybody knows that I don’t cheat. Never taken a steroid ... I don’t even know where to get steroids. ... I barely take supplements. Big lies.”
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association reportedly informed ESPN that Garcia had tested positive for Ostarine both the day before and the day of his fight against Haney. While the samples were collected prior to the match, the results were only disclosed post-fight.
Devin Haney, Garcia's opponent in the contentious bout, expressed disappointment over the situation, condemning Garcia's actions as cheating and disrespectful to the sport of boxing. Haney remarked, “This puts the fight in a completely different light,” hinting at the potential repercussions of the positive drug test.
If the positive drug test is officially confirmed, Garcia's victory over Haney could be nullified, casting a shadow over his recent triumph in the ring. The boxing community awaits further developments in this unfolding saga as the sport grapples with yet another doping controversy.
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