NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: Ryan Garcia (white trunks) prepares to fight Devin Haney during their WBC Super Lightweight title bout at Barclays Center on April 20, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
It looks like Ryan Garcia is retiring from boxing, and we’ve got the tea on why! Meanwhile, his recent opponent, Devin Haney, is here for what went down between Garcia and the New York State Athletic Commission!
According to ESPN, Ryan Garcia has received a one-year suspension from boxing. He settled with the New York State Athletic Commission over positive tests for ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug.
The suspension is retroactive to Garcia’s April 20 win over Devin Haney, which the commission has now overturned to a no-contest. The boxing star also forfeited $1.1 million and must pay the commission a $10,000 fine.
ESPN reports that Garcia will be reinstated on April 20, 2025, if his urine test at the time shows no banned substances. His settlement with the commission to accept punishment means he won’t have a hearing.
Shortly after Garcia’s suspension news broke, his team issued a statement to ESPN.
“Ryan, with his legal team, has resolved this issue and firmly maintains his truth: he never intentionally took any banned substance. It’s simply not in his nature. The fans will always remember his performance against Haney as a masterclass, and that will never be erased.”
Ryan didn’t hesitate to comment on the news about his one-year suspension. The boxing star’s announcement confirmed his retirement and claimed his innocence through a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He first announced his retirement and later claimed he was already in retirement. Ryan then alleged there is “so much corruption” in the sport.
“Yall may catch me out and about, but as far as boxing, I dont know. There is so much corruption Im over it. I may do acting or singing. Ill still be training, but Im hurt and done with it and everyone. The sad part is Im a great boxer.And I entertain and knock people out.Im sad bc I boxing.Praying for everyone, and I hope everyone has a great life,” he added in a separate post.
Ryan also shared that although “boxing will be alright without” him, it “still sucks” because he was “fun in the game” and it was “fun to punch people.” He also insisted that he did not take any enhancement drugs.
“I really hope boxing good without me, I fought everyone and was willing to. They have turned their back on me. Im innocent. I stand by that I dont care what everyone says. Gun [to] my head, I say I didnt take PEDs.”
Swipe below to see a summary of all of Garcia’s X posts.
While speaking to ESPN, Devin Haney reacted to the news about Garcia, expressing his happiness about receiving justice for what happened.
“I want to thank the commission and the fans who stood by me during this whole process. The facts are the facts, and I wasn’t on an even playing field. Happy I was able to receive justice for what happened. It’s all part of my story and it’s only going to make me better. I look to enjoy this time with my family and friends and see what’s next.”
Haney added that he wants to advocate for clean athletes going forward due to his experience.
“I’m a clean athlete and boxing is a brutal sport where one fight can literally change your life. I think its important for fighters to be clean and I want to become an advocate for clean athletes for my experience in this situation.”
Later Thursday, Haney seemed to throw a lil’ salt on Ryan Garcia’s wounds with a bowling alley dance.
Ryan Garcia has remained in the headlines this month. As The Shade Room previously reported, the professional boxer was hospitalized following his arrest in Beverly Hills, California, on (June 8).
Per TMZ, police arrested Ryan at the Waldorf Astoria hotel for felony vandalism and eventually transferred him to Cedars-Sinai for medical evaluation. The outlet also reported that the athlete seemed to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
ESPN reported that a watch commander from the Beverly Hills Police Department informed the outlet that Ryan was arrested following accusations from the hotel, alleging he caused $15,000 in damages to the property and his room.
