Jorge Masvidal discusses Ryan Garcia's one-year suspension for failing drug tests, says punishment "seems a little harsh"
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal believes the suspension imposed on Ryan Garcia for a failed drug test seems a bit severe.
Garcia tested positive for performance-enhancing drug Ostarine following his fight against Devin Haney in April 2024. 'KingRy' was suspended for one year, obligated to forfeit his purse, and levied a fine of $10,000 as part of the settlement with the New York State Athletic Commission. Additionally, his majority decision victory over Haney was also overturned as a no-contest.
Masvidal reacted to the charges on a recent episode of The Full Send podcast. 'Gamebred' claimed that the suspension seemed severe considering that it was caused due to alleged tainted supplements. He said:
"That seems a little harsh and he had to pay a crazy amount of money. You know, but, New York is a very like...Not just strict, but, like, over the top place in a way. If it's a tainted supplement, it straight-up sucks."
He added:
"That's why in my UFC career for nine years when we had USADA, I just wouldn't take a lot of supplements... I wouldn't take anything till those [UFC's approval] came out. I wasn't trying to get popped. You got to be careful, you got so much money on the risk."
Catch Masvidal's comments below:
Jorge Masvidal plots a UFC return and talks about the welterweight division
A little over a year after announcing his retirement, Jorge Masvidal is itching to get back in the mix and return to the UFC.
'Gamebred' is set to take on rival Nate Diaz in the boxing ring on July 6, 2024, at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. This fight will mark Masvidal's second professional boxing pursuit, having registered a majority decision win over Joseph Benjamin in June 2005.
Masvidal claimed in an interview with Michael Bisping that the UFC allowed him to pursue three fights while still being in contract with the Las Vegas-based promotion. He highlighted that the UFC wants him to return for one more fight and the Miami native wants to honor the commitment.
He asserted that he plans to "check the landscape" when he returns and take a call on whether he wants to continue boxing or fight in the UFC. Speaking about the current state of the talent-rich division, Masvidal said:
“It’s lacking something man, that something is your boy right here. Being in tip-top shape, being violent, and putting on some f**king great fights… Just give them to me man, I’m gonna eat these motherf****** up like tacos, just put them in front of me and I’ll lay some people out… I don’t see nothing that I couldn’t take on."
Catch Masvidal's comments below (12:20):