Garcia’s Suspension Removed; Should He Have Been Banned Permanently?

Boxing fans have given a mixed reaction after Ryan Garcia’s one-year suspension was lifted. 

Garcia was suspended after failing VADA tests for Ostarine, resulting in his victory against Devin Haney being overturned to a no-contest. It was a massive blow for the boxer since the win propelled his career to a whole new level, as he dropped Haney three times to become one of the faces of the sport. 

Garcia denied taking any substances, while his legal team also argued the amount in the system was not enough to enhance performance. There was a strong condemnation from the combat sports community, with Conor McGregor calling for a lifetime ban. Tony Bellew has also been open about boxers receiving lifetime bans if they ever fail tests. Haney was also delighted by the decision, as his undefeated record was reinstated.

“I want to thank the commission and the fans who stood by me during this whole process. The facts are the facts, and I wasn’t on an even playing field. Happy I was able to receive justice for what happened. It’s all part of my story and it’s only going to make me better. I look to enjoy this time with my family and friends and see what’s next. I’m a clean athlete and boxing is a brutal sport where one fight can literally change your life. I think it important for fighters to be clean and I want to become an advocate for clean athletes for my experience in this situation,” Haney said 

However, Garcia is a huge commercial star, which he demonstrated when he sold over 1.2 million PPVs for the Gervonta Davis fight. His social media following also increased exponentially after the Haney fight, as he gained over a million followers on X. He is now scheduled to face Rolando Romero on May 2. It will be for the WBA Regular Welterweight Belt. However, his return has been met with a strong response, with many fans having not forgotten what had happened.