The New York State Athletic Commission is set to meet this week to decide Ryan Garcia's future after his positive drug tests following his victory over WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney. Garcia could face fines, suspension, and possibly the overturning of his win due to the banned performance-enhancing substance found in his system.
Haney's lawyer, Pat English, has urged the commission to go beyond a no-contest ruling and disqualify Garcia, effectively awarding the victory to Haney. Although Garcia's legal team, led by Darin Chavez, hasn't been notified of a formal hearing date, a source indicated that the commission will address the issue by the week's end. Garcia insists he did not knowingly ingest any banned substances, even though his "B" samples also came back positive.
Garcia's actions have been unpredictable, both before and after his April win over Haney, during which he knocked Haney down three times to win by majority decision. Before the fight, Garcia missed weight, jokingly drank from a beer bottle at the weigh-in, and seemed to take his training lightly. His post-fight behavior has also raised eyebrows, including making derogatory remarks about Caleb Plant’s wife, leading to beer being thrown at him during the Davis-Martin fight, and his arrest for felony vandalism in Beverly Hills.
Watch THREE KNOCKDOWNS | Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia Fight Highlights: Watch
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has given Garcia a Friday deadline to submit documents as the WBC considers suspending him from its sanctioned bouts. Sulaiman expressed concern about Garcia's fast-paced lifestyle and social media antics, urging him to align his actions with his stated religious beliefs. Sulaiman cited the WBC's previous support for former champion David Benavidez, who turned his life around after testing positive for cocaine, expressing hope that Garcia could follow a similar path.
Sulaiman highlighted the pressures of fame and their adverse effects on young athletes like Garcia, who he described as likable and religious but in need of consistent actions. Still the WBC president hopes Garcia can find stability in his life and career.
Previously Ryan was arrested, read more about that here.
Image Credit: WBC