Ryan Garcia, the American super lightweight boxer, denied allegations of using a banned performance-enhancing substance before his victory over WBC world champion Devin Haney in New York last month.
ESPN, citing a leaked letter from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), reported on Wednesday that Garcia had tested positive for ostarine on the day before and the day of the fight.
Garcia addressed the report in a video posted on X.
“Everybody knows that I don’t cheat,” the 25-year-old said. “Never taken a steroid … I don’t even know where to get steroids at the end of the day, I barely take supplements. Big lies …”
Garcia knocked down Haney three times on the way to a majority decision at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, handing his rival the first defeat of his professional career. However, he missed weight and was unable to claim the title.
Ostarine is a selective androgen receptor modulator that produces similar results to anabolic steroids, allowing athletes to increase muscle mass, stamina, and fitness. It is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
VADA, an independent agency based in Las Vegas that conducts testing primarily for boxing and mixed martial arts, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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