Boxer Ryan Garcia is set to fight in December despite being suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) for testing positive for a banned substance, TMZ reports.
The 26-year-old athlete TMZ Sports“You're going to see me fight in December,” Garcia said. “It's going to be a big fight. Stay tuned!” Garcia, who has a 24-1 record, is serving a one-year suspension after testing positive for ostarine, a substance banned by the Anti-Doping Agency, in April.
As a result, his April 20 win against Devin Haney was overturned and Garcia forfeited the $1.1 million prize money he earned from that fight. According to the outlet, Garcia claims the positive test was due to a tainted supplement and has consistently denied any intentional wrongdoing. The suspension also includes a $10,000 fine. Haney, whose record was affected by the overturning of the fight, is now unbeaten at 31-0 with one no-contest. Garcia's suspension will officially be lifted on April 20, 2025.
Ryan Garcia says he'll play in December despite one-year suspension | Read More 👇 https://t.co/MQbGGqgvAA
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 7, 2024
According to TMZ, Garcia is barred from fighting in New York or anywhere else in the U.S. by state boxing commission rules, but is adamant about returning to the ring. His comments suggest the December bout could take place overseas or in a venue outside the jurisdiction of a regulatory body like the NYSAC. (Related article: Ryan Garcia announces retirement, but do we really believe in this guy?)
According to TMZ, it's unclear whether Garcia plans to take part in a boxing match or try his hand at other combat sports, such as mixed martial arts (MMA), which he has hinted at in the past.
