The boxing community is buzzing as the World Boxing Council (WBC) puts Ryan Garcia under the microscope following his failed drug tests tied to his April showdown with Devin Haney. The 25-year-old Garcia came in overweight, making him ineligible to snatch the super-lightweight title Haney was valiantly defending at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Despite this weight hiccup, Garcia rattled the previously undefeated Haney, landing knockdowns in the seventh, 10th, and 11th rounds, ultimately earning a majority decision. However, the celebration was marred by reports that Garcia tested positive for ostarine, a banned anabolic agent listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2008. Garcia has staunchly claimed his innocence, asserting that he was a victim of supplement contamination.

"We have consistently maintained Ryan was a victim of supplement contamination and has never intentionally used any banned or performance-enhancing substances," Garcia’s legal team reiterated recently.

Ostarine, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), has been banned at all times under the WBC Clean Boxing Program. The statement from the WBC highlighted the details: “The contents of Ryan Garcia’s 'A' and 'B' sample containers collected on April 19 and 20, 2024, yielded adverse analytical findings for Ostarine.”

The WBC has a precise protocol for such findings. The organization notified Garcia immediately upon receiving the adverse results and briefed him on his rights, including the right to witness the opening and testing of the ‘B’ sample. Unfortunately for Garcia, the 'B' sample confirmed the presence of the banned substance.

“In response to the notification of the Adverse Findings, the WBC began its Results Management Process,” the statement read. "The WBC notified Mr. Garcia of the adverse findings and requested available information or documents that could aid in determining the circumstances leading to the adverse findings. The WBC’s Result Management Unit anticipates receiving this information toward the end of June."

As the month progresses, the WBC will continue to delve into the pharmacological characteristics of ostarine, scrutinize the test details, and explore any possible explanations for the adverse findings. For now, Garcia finds himself in a precarious situation, his accomplishments called into question, and his future in the sport hanging in the balance.

The boxing world will anxiously await updates from the WBC as additional information comes to light. Will Garcia's claims of accidental contamination hold up against stringent doping controls, or will this tarnish the rising star's reputation in the ring? Only time will tell.