Ryan Garcia returns to the ring after one year after being banned from boxing for failed a drugs PED test after his fight with Devin Haney in 2024.
Fast forward to this Friday night, Garcia is taking on Rolly Romero for a world title in his first fight back, after beating Haney last year only for it to then be turned into a no contest.
Speaking to Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine’s ‘Unboxed’, Garcia maintains his innocence to this day:
“I was tested all the time, randomly, never missed a test, never tried to avoid one. I don’t know how to mask anything—my team doesn’t have someone like that. My last test was two weeks before the fight, and then the fight happened. I’m as confused as ever. It drives me crazy. I was focused on cutting weight. Some say I took something to cut weight, but you’d need to take it long-term for it to work. I wouldn’t just take a PED three days out to lose weight—that doesn’t make sense. Maybe a diuretic, but ostarine doesn’t do that. I looked it up; I think it helps muscles recover, but I wouldn’t take it to lose weight.”
It must be pointed out, again, that is was only trace levels of the tiniest amount of the substance found in Garcia’s system at the time.
The former head of the NY Athletic Commission at that time no longer even works for the Commission anymore, moreover.
Haney fights on Friday night on the same card in Times Square in New York and provided both win, the Garcia vs Haney rematch is already agreed for later this year.
First thing first though.
Roll on Friday night and the weekend ahead for what promises to be an outstanding weekend for the sport with Canelo and Inoue boxing on Saturday and Sunday.
Cinco De Mayo Mexican holiday weekend never disappoints.