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.
“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.”
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.
“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.”