Boxer Ryan Garcia has been suspended until April 2025 for testing positive for a banned substance and will forfeit his purse from his fight against Devin Haney as part of a settlement with the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), the New York Department of State announced Thursday.
Garcia’s share of the purse is $1.1 million, said Pat English, an attorney representing Haney. The purse forfeiture amount will be paid back to the promoter, not to the NYSAC, according to the New York Department of State, which told USA TODAY Sports it could not confirm the dollar amount.
Garcia’s New York State professional boxer license will be suspended until April 20, 2025, exactly a year after his fight against Haney in Brooklyn, if he provides a clean urinalysis to the commission, according to a news release issued by the New York Department of State.
Garcia’s victory by majority decision has been changed to a “no contest’’ and the NYSAC fined Garcia $10,000, according to the news release. The NYSAC ruled on the matter because the fight took place in New York.
Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, said he will uphold the suspension and expects all other states to do the same.
A statement issued on behalf of Garcia, 25, said the boxer was the victim of a contaminated supplement.
“For many years, Ryan has voluntarily submitted to random testing, even during out-of-competition periods, and has never had any issues,’’ the statement said. “He has maintained an impeccable and clean record throughout his career, significantly elevating and transcending the sport of boxing, earning respect and admiration from millions of fans worldwide.’’
Claiming the presence of ostarine was too small to provide an advantage over Haney, the statement added, “The fans will always remember his performance against Haney as a masterclass, and that will never be erased.’’
BodyHealth, manufacturer of one of the two supplements Garcia claimed were contaminated with ostarine and blamed for his failed drug tests, said two accredited laboratories determined the product had no ostarine following testing.
“BodyHealth prioritizes quality and safety and takes any claim to the contrary very seriously,’’ the company said in a news release.
The supplement in question was strawberry-flavored Perfect Amino.
On Wednesday, in a post on X, Garcia said he was retiring from boxing. But on Thursday he shared the statement that seemed to indicate otherwise: “He will be back in the ring soon and better than ever!” the statement said.
