Ryan Garcia, Team Identifies Contaminated Additives as Cause of Positive Tests

Ryan Garcia believes he has found the cause of his drug test.

The question remains, however, whether it will fly with the commission in charge.

Two supplements taken by Garcia during his previous training were tested and showed trace amounts of Ostarine [Enobosarm]. Lab reports received by A ring revealed that the supplements in question were Body Health Perfect Amino and NutraBIO Super Carb.

The tests were conducted at Sports Medicine Research & Testing (SMRTL), a WADA-accredited laboratory. The results were reported Thursday to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which contracted for its services in connection with Garcia's April 20 victory over Devin Haney in Brooklyn, New York.

Ostarine was found in Garcia's separate test samples, collected by VADA-contracted testers on April 19 after the weigh-in and on April 20 after the fight. Both “B” samples produced the same result, although it was expected that Garcia has repeatedly raised contamination.

Now you have lab results to back up that claim.

“The test results from the samples of the two supplements declared by Ryan Garcia in the VADA Doping Control forms, signed on April 19 and 20, came back positive that Ostarine was contaminated,” said Darin Chavez, head of Garcia's legal team, in an official press release. “This confirms what we've always maintained: Ryan was a victim of ingredient contamination and never knowingly used any banned or performance-enhancing substances.

“Any claims to the contrary, questioning Ryan's integrity as a pure hero, are unquestionably false and defamatory.”

SMRTL has also brought back the tests available.

Both lab reports indicated that the supplement containers were received open but sealed for shipping purposes.

It makes sense to test the very products that were reportedly used during the training. The reports provided, suggest, however, that no other samples of that lot number were provided for testing.

Lot numbers were listed for both products, but only the containers used by Garcia were given for testing.

Still, it's more physical evidence than what Garcia and his team have provided. There have been previous claims of hair follicles being sent for testing and allegedly coming back negative.

However, the only evidence provided for such an assessment was an official statement from Garcia's legal team.

“Ryan Garcia is committed to clean and fair competition and has never knowingly used a banned substance,” Garcia's team said in a press release. “Immediately after being informed of his positive test, Ryan voluntarily collected his hair and was sent to Dr. Pascal Kintz, leading expert in toxicology and hair sample analysis. Ryan's hair sample results came back negative. This is consistent with contamination and clearly proves that Ryan did not consume Ostarine for a long time – the only way he could have benefited from any ring.

“Ryan has voluntarily submitted to tests throughout his career, which have always shown negative results. He also tested positive several times leading to a fight with Haney. All these factors, combined with his very low levels in the samples taken on April 19 and 20 (in billions of grams), point to Ryan being a victim of contamination of the ingredients and he never received any benefit to improve performance in very small amounts. in his program. We are certain that one of the natural supplements that Ryan was using before the fight will be found to be contaminated and we are in the process of testing the supplements to determine the exact source.”

There is no paper trail accompanying this statement, and lab reports are included with Thursday's development.

“Throughout his career, Ryan has volunteered for many tests, all of which have come back with negative results, underscoring his commitment to fair and clean competition,” Chavez emphasized. “Furthermore, the many negative tests leading up to his fight with Haney continue to confirm his clean record.

“The very low levels of Ostarine found in his samples, in the billionth of a gram range, and his clean hair sample prove contamination rather than intentional ingestion. Recent test results confirm this.”

Haney (31-1, 15 KOs) and his legal team have challenged—without physical evidence—claims of the “very low” rates found in Garcia's program.

The fight was fought under the supervision of the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC). The commission is investigating the matter and needs to make a decision, given the outcome of the assessment.

The commission's rules—and VADA's—point to strict liability for all athletes. Simply put, evidence of impurity alone will not allow Garcia to avoid disciplinary action from the NYSAC.

The expectation is that the result of the April 20 fight will be turned into a No Contest. Haney's team took the extreme step of having Garcia awarded the forfeit by forfeit.

Such a decision would restore Haney's previously unblemished record. However, it will be the first time under NYSAC rules that test results are given outside of its agreements.

Garcia knocked down Haney three times en route to a majority decision victory.

Haney was allowed to retain his WBC 140-pound title, despite the defeat. Garcia was ineligible to win the belt after missing weight. The outspoken boxer weighed in at 143.2 kilograms during the April 19 weigh-in.

Garcia had to pay a fine and renegotiate the fight contract in order to move on to the main event.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Follow @JakeNDaBox