Ryan Garcia, one of boxing’s brightest stars, has officially announced his retirement amid a storm of legal troubles and media pressure following a doping scandal. The 25-year-old boxer took to social media on Wednesday to make his announcement, stating simply, “I’m officially retired.” This declaration marks the end of a turbulent period for Garcia, who has been embroiled in controversy since his bout against Devin Haney on April 20.
Garcia’s decision to retire comes in the wake of revelations from the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory, which reported last month that two supplements listed on Garcia’s doping control forms contained the banned substance ostarine. This finding cast a shadow over his career and led to intense scrutiny from both the media and the public.
In his retirement post, Garcia expressed his disillusionment with the sport, saying, “There is so much corruption I’m over it.” He lamented walking away from boxing but insisted that the sport “will be alright without me.” His frustration was palpable as he also mentioned, “I may do acting or singing. I’ll still be training but I’m hurt and done with it and everyone.”
The controversy surrounding Garcia intensified when his attorneys released a statement blaming “supplement contamination” for the positive drug test results. According to Josh Peter of USA Today, Garcia’s team maintained that the presence of ostarine in NutraBIO super carb raspberry lemonade and strawberry-flavored Body Health Perfect Amino was unintentional. “This confirms what we have consistently maintained: Ryan was a victim of supplement contamination and has never intentionally used any banned or performance-enhancing substances,” the statement read. “Any claims to the contrary, questioning Ryan’s integrity as a clean fighter, are unequivocally false and defamatory.”
Despite the ongoing investigation by the New York State Athletic Commission, which could result in a fine, suspension, or even the overturning of his victory over Haney, Garcia’s record currently stands at an impressive 25-1 with 20 knockouts. The fight against Haney, held in Brooklyn, was a significant upset win for Garcia. He scored three knockdowns in a majority decision win, although he was not eligible to claim Haney’s WBC junior welterweight title due to weighing in 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound limit.
Garcia’s abrupt exit from the sport has left many fans and analysts in shock. His social media posts leading up to the announcement hinted at his growing dissatisfaction, with messages such as “I’m outty” and “I may retire I’m done with this game.” In one poignant post, he shared, “The sad part is I’m a great boxer.”
The retirement of Ryan Garcia underscores the darker side of professional boxing, where the pressures of maintaining peak performance and navigating the sport’s inherent corruption can take a toll on even the most talented athletes. As Garcia steps away from the ring, he leaves behind a legacy of what could have been a stellar career, now overshadowed by controversy and disillusionment.
While Garcia may explore new avenues in acting or singing, his departure is a stark reminder of the challenges that athletes face beyond the physical demands of their sport. The boxing world will watch closely to see what the future holds for Ryan Garcia, both inside and outside the ring.
