Ryan Garcia has been banned from participating in any WBC events, as announced by Mauricio Sulaiman on July 4th. This decision comes after Garcia failed two VADA tests, leading to his victory over Devin Haney on April 20 being changed to a no-contest.
During a media call on July 3rd, Sulaiman expressed personal concern for Garcia, urging those close to the boxer to ensure he gets the help he needs. The WBC president highlighted Garcia's concerning behavior in recent months, including erratic social media posts and weighing in more than three pounds above the 140-pound limit for his fight against Haney. Despite these issues, Garcia managed to knock down Haney three times and initially secured a win.
However, on May 1st, VADA informed all involved parties that Garcia tested positive for Ostarine both the day before and the day of his victory over Haney, who held the WBC junior welterweight title. As a result, on June 20th, the New York Athletic Commission fined Garcia $1.1 million, suspended him for a year, and voided his win. Since these decisions were made public, Garcia has been active on social media deflecting blame for his predicament.
Sulaiman took to social media to address the WBC's choice to remove Garcia, stating, "As the president of the WBC, I have decided to expel Ryan Garcia from all involvement with our organization. We stand against any form of discrimination. I am concerned for Ryan's well-being as he has turned down our assistance with mental health and substance abuse issues."
This expulsion signifies a major setback for Garcia, who has displayed great promise but has been dealing with challenges beyond his boxing career. The WBC's action highlights the importance of tackling mental health and substance abuse issues, especially in the demanding environment of professional boxing.
Will he be fine? Drop your thoughts in the comments section.
Read more about how Ryan got suspended by clicking here.
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