The Ongoing Saga of Ryan García’s Failed Drug Test

Ryan García’s stunning victory over Devin Haney on April 20 has continued to be overshadowed by controversy. García, who defeated Haney by majority decision in what many have deemed the biggest upset of the year, now faces scrutiny after testing positive for the banned substance Ostarine. In attempt to make sense of it all, Brunch Boxing delves into the intricate details of the scandal, the reactions from the involved parties, and the implications for García’s career and the sport of boxing.

On April 20, Ryan García and Devin Haney squared off in a highly anticipated bout at Madison Square Garden, New York. García emerged victorious by majority decision, a result that left fans and analysts alike stunned. However, the celebrations were short-lived. It was soon revealed that García had tested positive for Ostarine in two separate tests conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) on April 19 and 20.

Ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), is known for its muscle-building properties and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The revelation cast a shadow over García’s triumph, with Devin Haney immediately calling on the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) to overturn the fight’s result and award him a disqualification victory.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the NYSAC has yet to comment publicly or provisionally suspend García pending investigation. This lack of action has drawn criticism from various quarters, especially since it was initially reported by Brunch Boxing that the NYSAC did not follow their own protocols and conduct their own fight night drug test.

Adding to the confusion, a source close to the situation claimed that the commission did conduct a test, but the A sample was sent to a Quest Diagnostics lab instead of the proper WADA-accredited lab in Salt Lake City, Utah. This test reportedly came back negative for Ostarine, as the lab did not test for the substance. After VADA’s positive result, the NYSAC then had the B sample tested at the WADA-accredited lab, which confirmed the presence of Ostarine.

Brunch Boxing, however, stands by its original reporting that no test was conducted by the NYSAC. If the commission source is correct, it raises questions about the validity of the test results and the overall testing process. The procedural missteps and lack of clear communication have already resulted in the forced resignation of the commission’s executive director, Kim Sumbler.

Ryan García and his team have responded to the allegations by claiming that the positive VADA test results were due to supplement contamination. They pointed to a NutraBio SuperCarb product as the source of contamination and sent the remaining product to a WADA-accredited lab. This lab confirmed the presence of Ostarine in the supplement.

García’s team contends that this finding supports their contamination claim. However, critics argue that García did not follow protocol by sending an already used product for testing, thus compromising the sample’s integrity.

NutraBio, the manufacturer of the implicated supplement, has vehemently denied García’s claims. CEO and Founder Mark Glazier released a statement refuting the accusations:

“NutraBio categorically rejects the reckless claims made by professional boxer Ryan Garcia and his team that the NutraBio SuperCarb product caused Mr. Garcia’s positive test for Ostarine. Our company has consistently maintained a rigorous quality control process. NutraBio has never manufactured a supplement with Ostarine and has never brought Ostarine into our manufacturing facility for use in any product, ever. We have a long-standing commitment to producing the highest-quality supplements, trusted by athletes worldwide. A retain of the SuperCarb lot in question has been tested for Ostarine at ISO 17025 accredited laboratories by Eurofins and BSCG (Banned Substance Control Group), both of which are leading independent third-party testing providers. The testing confirmed there was no Ostarine detected in the product. Any express or implied statements suggesting that our product contained Ostarine when it was sold are completely unfounded. Making defamatory statements about our product and brand that rely on test results done on an unsealed, expired container handled by the accused individual has no credibility. Further, the minuscule amount of Ostarine allegedly detected in the open container of SuperCarb does not explain the amount of Ostarine identified in Ryan Garcia’s urine, which at 6 ng/ml is 60 times the testing limit. We take any claims against our company extremely seriously and stand by our process for ensuring the quality, safety, and security of our products.”

NutraBio’s statement has raised additional questions, including why the company sent the product to BSCG instead of a WADA-accredited lab. BSCG, a partner with VADA, returned the positive test results, which could be seen as a conflict of interest.

This is not the first time VADA has faced accusations of conflict of interest. VADA’s relationship with Victor Conte, a convicted performance-enhancing drug (PED) dealer, has been scrutinized. Conte, the founder of BALCO, was at the center of a major PED scandal in American sports and now operates Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC Nutrition). Conte, an outspoken critic of Ryan García, has been associated with Devin Haney’s team and authorized to speak on Haney’s behalf regarding the drug testing scandal.

The entire ordeal has been fraught with confusion and controversy from the outset. As of now, Ryan García remains free to fight, with no suspension imposed by the NYSAC. The commission’s failure to adhere to protocols and the conflicting reports regarding the testing process have cast doubt on the integrity of the sport’s regulatory framework.

The boxing community eagerly awaits the NYSAC’s official stance on the matter. García’s career, the outcome of the Haney fight, and the credibility of the sport’s drug testing protocols hang in the balance. Until the commission provides clarity, the saga surrounding Ryan García’s failed drug test will continue to generate heated debate and speculation.