Ryan Garcia's B-sample positive for banned substance

Ryan Garcia's B-sample positive for banned substance

ByMIKE COPPINGER

May 23, 2024, 2:19 PM

    Star boxer Ryan Garcia's B-sample returned an adverse finding for the banned substance ostarine on Thursday, per a Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory report viewed by ESPN.

    The A-sample, which was collected the day before and the day of his upset win over Devin Haney last month, returned an adverse finding for ostarine May 1.

    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.

    Ostarine has been on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list since 2008 and in 2022 was listed as an anabolic agent by WADA, whose rules mandate that when urine samples are collected, they are divided into A and B bottles to safeguard against lab error.

    "I don't know where [the adverse finding] came from," Garcia told ESPN on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, hours before he was ringside for Oleksandr Usyk's heavyweight title win over Tyson Fury. "Honestly, bro, I don't. I was taking ashwagandha, D-3, Omega-3, just normal s---. I don't know what the f--- [ostarine] is. ... I have seriously no idea. I would tell everybody the truth.

    "My whole thing is I'd rather tell the truth than try to fabricate it with a lie. Because lies don't stand. So if I really did take it, I would be like, honestly, I was going through a weird situation. I wasn't really that confident. I chose to take it. I'm sorry. And that's it. But I didn't and I hate cheating. ... All I can say is legal team, help me figure this out."

    Darin Chavez, part of Garcia's four-member legal team, told ESPN a formal hearing with the New York State Athletic Commission will be set to "absolve Garcia of any wrongdoing." The commission didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

    " ... Soon after being notified of his positive test, Ryan voluntarily had his hair collected and shipped to Dr. Pascal Kintz, the foremost expert in toxicology and hair-sample analysis," Chavez said. "The results of Ryan's hair sample came back negative. ... We are certain that one of the natural supplements Ryan was using in the lead up to the fight will prove to be contaminated. We are in the process of testing the supplements to determine the exact source."

    Related Stories

    ryan garcia's b-sample positive for banned substance

    On Chinese doping case, lawmakers demand action, answers from Olympic and law-enforcement leaders

    May 22, 7:33 PM

    ryan garcia's b-sample positive for banned substance

    Oleksandr Usyk edges Tyson Fury by split decision, now undisputed

    May 18, 8:19 PM

    ryan garcia's b-sample positive for banned substance

    Tyson Fury in better shape at weigh-in for Oleksandr Usyk fight

    May 17, 4:09 PM

    If Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) and his team can indeed prove to the commission that there was supplement contamination, then the 25-year-old could be cleared. Otherwise, he faces suspension of his boxing license along with fines.

    Garcia, who floored Haney three times in the majority-decision win, lashed out at Victor Conte, who works with Haney as a sports nutritionist and performance adviser.

    "This dude that's f---ing defending Devin Haney is the biggest cheater in sports history," Garcia said. "You can't make this up." Conte, the founder of Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), served time in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute performance-enhancing drugs before founding SNAC, a sports nutrition company.

    "Ryan Garcia has called me lots of horrible names recently," Conte told ESPN. "However, the scientific process was upheld and both of his urine B-samples came back positive for ostarine. The strict liability rule will now apply and he will likely be fined and suspended from boxing. I hope Ryan's behavior will serve as an example of how not to act in times of uncertainty in regards to pending drug testing results. ... The world of boxing deserves to be respected as a sport."

    Ostarine has been used in boxing before. Lucian Bute tested positive for it in 2016 following a draw with Badou Jack in their WBC super middleweight title fight. The result was changed to a DQ win for Jack. Amir Khan was handed a two-year ban by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after he tested positive for ostarine following his sixth-round TKO loss to Kell Brook in 2022.

    "It's been tough," Garcia said. "I know I've been talking my s---, but alone it's been hurting me a little bit and I've been sad and I feel like crying. I even feel like crying right now because it's just like they're taking my greatest victory away. But again, leave it in God's hands. ... At the end of the day, I just feel like I try to fight for my innocence every day, man. I've been giving them the facts about what they're doing and how it ended up being a positive the day before and the day after."

    "I know I will find a way to fight," Garcia added regarding a possible suspension. "If I got to go to a different country to fight, I will. ... I just want to be in the ring. I'm in my prime. I feel good. I feel strong."

    OTHER NEWS

    4 hrs ago

    Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy 'getting fed up' with owner Jerry Jones: report

    4 hrs ago

    Who Should Steelers Hope Wins Training Camp QB Battle?

    4 hrs ago

    Goaltender's dad talks up the Oilers' chances of lifting the Stanley Cup

    4 hrs ago

    Phillies turn rare 1-3-5 triple play against Tigers, 1st since 1929

    4 hrs ago

    Discount Burger Check? Chiefs' Reid Shares Hilarious Commercial Story

    4 hrs ago

    'Devastating loss': Digital lending library, Internet Archive, removes 500,000 books after being sued by publishers

    4 hrs ago

    Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina: WTA ‘Big 4’ state of play ahead of Wimbledon

    4 hrs ago

    Would a Toronto byelection loss spell doom for Trudeau?

    4 hrs ago

    BlackSuit ransomware gang blamed for ongoing car dealership outages

    4 hrs ago

    'Unreal' injury-time equaliser saves football powerhouse

    4 hrs ago

    Nigel Farage accused of cosying up to the Kremlin by former NATO boss

    4 hrs ago

    Dagestan, in southern Russia, has a history of violence. Why does it keeps happening?

    4 hrs ago

    Marines revive a World War II airfield on Peleliu in Pacific pivot

    4 hrs ago

    Fortnite Brings Tilted Towers and Other Fan Favorite Locations, But With a Twist

    4 hrs ago

    Shadow of the Erdtree Puts the Cherry on Top of Elden Rings Main Strength

    4 hrs ago

    Anger erupts as Albo's governor-general is awarded payrise

    4 hrs ago

    Charo Makes Rare Public Appearance at Project Angel Food Event: 'Life Is Beautiful' (Exclusive)

    4 hrs ago

    Boozed-up England fans sing '10 German bombers' chant in Cologne

    4 hrs ago

    Show Respect: ‘Boys are surprised we talk about this, it’s become normalised’

    4 hrs ago

    After clash with prosecutor, judge reserves ruling on restricting Trump’s rhetoric about agents’ classified documents search

    4 hrs ago

    Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan ‘doesn’t deliver’ any ‘energy price decrease’ until 2040

    4 hrs ago

    Where to watch Netherlands vs. Austria live stream, TV channel, lineups, prediction for Euro 2024 match

    4 hrs ago

    China lunar probe to return to Earth with samples

    4 hrs ago

    Report: Knicks’ OG Anunoby declines player option, enters unrestricted free agency

    4 hrs ago

    Saints offensive line ranked 19th in the NFL

    4 hrs ago

    Senators acquire goaltender Linus Ullmark from Bruins

    4 hrs ago

    Why Qld feels like home for the Blues

    4 hrs ago

    Seahawks waive 3 undrafted free agents, make UFL champ signing official

    4 hrs ago

    Andrew Scott Frantically Runs to Hear Taylor Swift's ‘Style' at 'Eras Tour'

    4 hrs ago

    England’s Test series v New Zealand: Date, kick-off time and TV channel

    4 hrs ago

    Bills' McDermott Says Von Miller Has ‘Something to Prove’

    4 hrs ago

    US prosecutors want Boeing to face criminal charges

    4 hrs ago

    Finance Minister Michael McGrath set to become Ireland's new EU Commissioner

    4 hrs ago

    Red-hot Cardinals get huge boost in return of star catcher

    4 hrs ago

    How police use the mail to spy on you: 60,000 cases in last decade with little pushback

    4 hrs ago

    These 3 Republicans are Trump’s most likely VP picks

    4 hrs ago

    Roy Jones Jr. announces his son, DeAndre, died by suicide

    4 hrs ago

    Luxury Gyms, Like Equinox and Life Time, Are Taking Over Big Retail Spaces

    4 hrs ago

    Automobili Pininfarina PURA Vision wins prestigious Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024

    4 hrs ago

    Pop legend Robbie Williams wears his AFL jersey to see if he still gets recognised in London - with some very surprising results