Eddie Hearn says Devin Haney has been left ‘absolutely furious’ following the news of Ryan Garcia’s failed drug tests, with the beaten super-lightweight champion calling for an ‘immediate no-contest’.
Garcia picked up the bragging rights in his grudge match with Haney on April 20, knocking his former amateur rival down three times and claiming a majority-decision win – albeit having come in three-and-a-half pounds over the super-lightweight limit.
Nearly two weeks on from that victory, it has now emerged that the 25-year-old tested positive for Ostarine, a banned substance that builds muscle mass and enhances rate of fat loss, both the day before and the day of the fight.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported on Wednesday night that Garcia failed for the substance in two urine sample tests for the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, while a sample also screened positive for 19-norandrosterone – another banned substance – but is unconfirmed pending further lab analysis.
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Eddie Hearn says Devin Haney has been left ‘absolutely furious’ following the news of Ryan Garcia ‘s failed drug tests
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Garcia, who defeated Haney on April 20, tested positive for banned substance Ostarine the day before and the day of the fight
Ryan Garcia denies claims that he ‘tested positive for banned PED’
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Haney took to social media to tell Garcia his failed tests are ‘no laughing matter’ on Wednesday
Haney broke his silence on social media after learning of his rival’s failed tests, insisting it puts his first career defeat in ‘a completely different light’ while telling Garcia it is ‘no laughing matter’. The latter, meanwhile, is protesting his innocence on X.
The morning after the bombshell report came to light, Hearn, who co-promoted Haney for the fight with Garcia, claimed the situation has left his man feeling ‘screwed’.
‘I spoke to Devin last night, in his mind he’s absolutely furious,’ the Matchroom chief told The Stomping Ground.
‘The guy came in three-and-a-half pound overweight and had performance-enhancing drugs in his system. He will want the contest to be an immediate no-contest [and] for that to be scrubbed off the card.
‘Regardless of Ryan’s innocence or guilt in this situation, he had performance-enhancing drugs in his system when he fought Devin Haney – and he came in three-and-a-half pounds over.
‘If you’re Devin Haney right now you’re thinking, ‘F*** me, I’ve been screwed.’
Garcia has 10 days to request his B-sample to be tested for the same substance, a test he must pay for himself.
He immediately took to social media to deny the claims Wednesday night, branding them ‘fake news’.
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Hearn, who co-promoted Haney for the fight, says his man will be seeking a no-contest
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Garcia immediately launched into a social-media rant to deny knowingly taking PEDs
‘I came on here to address this bull-f***ing-s**t claim that I cheated,’ Garcia said in a video posted to X. ‘Everybody knows I don’t cheat.
‘What can I say? Why didn’t they come out with this before, if they found it before? Why would they still let me into the ring? I came out with a victory and then they post this.
‘These are people that are trying to attack me for whatever reason. But no weapon against me shall prosper. I’ve never taken a steroid in my life.’
Garcia continued to hit back at the reports in a series of social media rants, suggesting in one post that the news broke as an attack on him because he was pictured with Donald Trump.
‘Hmm I’m seen with trump,’ he wrote. ‘And now I’m positive for steroids. This is a straight attack. Crazy.’
‘I’m find out who paid who to create this lie,’ he added in another. ‘NOW IMA RELEASE EVERYONES S***. TIME TO EXPOSE THE REAL SNAKES.’
