Golden Boy, the promoters of Ryan Garcia, issued a statement after positive tests for banned substances emerged for his fight against Devin Haney on April 20.
In the statement, Golden Boy confirms that they believe Garcia‘s statement that he did not use the substances.
Ryan Garcia posts video reacting to the doping allegations after Devin Haney fight
Golden Boy has announced that it will work closely with Garcia‘s team to investigate the reasons behind the positive tests. Garcia firmly maintains that he has not ingested any banned substances and believes that someone is out to get him for unknown reasons, possibly to taint his 12-round majority decision victory over previously undefeated Haney.
Depending on the results of the investigation, there are two possible scenarios: one in which the charges are expunged if no cause is found, which could mean the win over Haney stands for Garcia. The other possibility is a suspension and sanctions, which could include fines.
Reputational damage
Regardless of how the investigation progresses, Garcia‘s reputation will take a hit, as some boxing fans are likely to think the worst.
They might assume Garcia was guilty and perceive his stunning victory over Haney as having been achieved with the help of banned substances.
The real problem is that even if Garcia can prove that he did not knowingly use banned substances, some will still consider him a cheat.
This could affect his long-term reputation and perhaps influence his future decisions. Although Garcia has stated that he will not give Haney a rematch, he may feel pressure to do so in order to legitimately prove his superiority.
However, a second fight might not generate the same excitement as the first, as many fans will be concerned about Garcia‘s positive evidence.
If Garcia doesn’t care what others think, he could choose to fight other opponents, as long as he is not suspended.
But facing Haney again would be a disappointment for him. In a rematch, Haney is likely to adopt a defensive strategy similar to the one he employed in his previous victories, using grappling, movement and tactical strikes to counter Garcia‘s attack.
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
Marca
