American super lightweight boxer Ryan Garcia has denied taking a banned performance-enhancing drug before his victory over WBC world champion Devin Haney in New York last month.
ESPN reported on Wednesday, citing a leaked letter from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), that Garcia had tested positive for ostarine the day before and the day of the fight.
Garcia discussed the report in a video on X.
“Everyone knows I don’t cheat,” the 25-year-old said.
“Never taken a steroid. …I don’t even know where to get steroids at the end of the day, I hardly take any supplements. Big lies…”
Garcia defeated Haney three times en route to a majority decision win at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, handing his rival the first defeat of his professional career. He missed weight and therefore could not claim the title.
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator that produces similar results to anabolic steroids, allowing athletes to increase their muscle mass, endurance and fitness. It is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
VADA, an independent agency based in Las Vegas that primarily conducts testing for boxing and mixed martial arts, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
