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Ryan Garcia drugs ban: Why was he banned from boxing?

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Ryan Garcia's return to the ring got off on the wrong foot this month when he was defeated by Rolly Romero, to scupper hopes of a rematch with Devin Haney.

The star defeated the latter last year with an impressive stoppage, and looked set to build on the result for further success before he returned a failed drugs test.

That saw the result pulled to a no-contest and Garcia sidelined for one year as a result of the findings by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). 

DAZN News explains why Garcia was banned from the sport of boxing for a prolonged period and why this changed the official result of his fight with Haney. 

Why was Ryan Garcia banned from boxing? 

After beating Devin Haney at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on April 20, 2024, Ryan Garcia was on the top of the boxing world for both good and bad reasons. 

The good, he had just beaten an opponent who not so long ago was an undisputed champion, but when it comes to the bad, Garcia came into this contest overweight and his erratic behaviour ahead of fight night put an unnecessary stain on the contest. 

Then on May 1, VADA announced that Garcia had tested for Ostarine, a performance enhancing drug, both the day before and on the day of the Haney fight. 

This finding had serious repercussions for Garcia financially and for his boxing career.

What punishment did Ryan Garcia receive for failed drugs test? 

Ryan Garcia_18042024Golden Boy / Cris Esqueda

Ryan Garcia was handed a one-year ban from the New York State Athletic Commission as a result of testing positive for Ostarine. 

Garcia was also ordered to forfeit the $1.2m purse he got for fighting Haney along with paying a $10,000 fine. 

The ban for 'King Ry' will last until April 20, and before his next fight on May 2 which takes place at New York's Times Square, Garcia will need to provide a clean urine test before having his licence reissued. 

Garcia's next fight is scheduled to be against Rolando Romero and it will be broadcast live on DAZN PPV

Did the result of Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia change?

The result of the fight between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia did change as a result of the positive drugs test. 

Garcia's majority decision win on the night was instead ruled a no-contest meaning that Haney's undefeated record (31-0, 15 KOs) is still intact.

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