Ryan Garcia "officially" retires from boxing citing drug test drama, mother's illness, and more: "I'm being sued"
Ryan Garcia is seemingly hanging up his gloves amid all the ongoing upheaval in his life. Garcia's surprising victory over Devin Haney in April was overshadowed by scandal when he tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug Ostarine around the time of their fight.
'KingRy's' retirement announcement, whether permanent or temporary, follows his recent arrest on a felony vandalism charge in Beverly Hills, where hotel authorities accused the 25-year-old Californian of property damage.
The former interim WBC lightweight champion took to X, announcing in a series of posts that he is "officially retired."
In a subsequent post, Garcia listed numerous reasons that prompted his decision to announce his retirement:
"Mom has cancer. I’m being sued. My supplements were tainted, Going through a divorce. Always GETTING SH*T TALKED on the internet FOR YEARS. Devin asking for my victory to be taken away. I’m getting hit with everything. I STILL LOVE GOD; HE IS EVERYTHING."
Check out Ryan Garcia's posts below:
Garcia's retirement announcement also aligns with an upcoming meeting of the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) later this week, where sanctions regarding his failed doping tests will be deliberated.
There is widespread speculation that the commission might impose a lengthy suspension on 'KingRy', along with a significant fine, and potentially overturn his victory against the reigning WBC super lightweight champion.
Garcia clinched a dominant victory over 'The Dream', scoring three knockdowns and securing a unanimous decision in a significant upset. This setback marked the first blemish on Haney's otherwise flawless professional record.
Although the match was slated for Haney's WBC super lightweight title, Garcia exceeded the 140-pound weight limit by 3.2 pounds, making him ineligible to compete for the belt.
Devin Haney suggests Ryan Garcia could face two-year ban over positive drug tests
Devin Haney seems to be privy to insider information regarding the NYSAC's ruling on Ryan Garcia's drug test. The WBC super lightweight champion recently took to X and subtly suggested that his adversary could be looking at a possible two-year ban from the commission:
Check out Devin Haney's post below:
'The Dream' had previously sent a formal letter via his attorney to the NYSAC, urging them to consider overturning his defeat to a disqualification or declaring it a no contest.
Meanwhile, Garcia's team vehemently maintains that the detection of Ostarine in their client's system was due to contamination in supplements. They emphasize that 'KingRy' has never knowingly taken any prohibited substances and has consistently demonstrated his commitment to fair competition.