Garcia failed drug test before Haney win: ESPN

American boxer Ryan Garcia failed a drug test just before his explosive victory over undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) super-lightweight Devin Haney last month, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

The sports broadcaster revealed that Garcia tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance Ostarine on the day before the April 20 bout in New York and again on the morning of the fight.

ESPN boxing reporter Mike Coppinger added that Garcia also tested positive for another banned substance, 19-norandrosterone, although that result was described as "unconfirmed."

The details of the test results were contained in a letter obtained by ESPN by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which oversees drug testing in boxing and mixed martial arts.

Ostarine is commonly used to prevent muscle loss and enhance lean body mass. Additionally, it is employed in the treatment of breast cancer in women.

At the age of 25, Garcia scored an upset win over Haney after knocking him down three times during the fight on his way to a majority decision win.

Haney's title was not at stake because Garcia was 3.2 pounds over the limit at the weigh-in.

Garcia, meanwhile, denied wrongdoing in a profanity-laced post late Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, describing it as "fake news."

"Everybody knows that I don't cheat," Garcia said. "What can I say? Why didn't they come out with this before the fight if they found it before? Why would they let me step into the ring as a cheater and then come out with a victory and post this."

He added, "These are people that are trying to attack me for whatever reason ... I've never taken a steroid in my life. I don't even know where to get steroids at the end of the day. I barely take supplements."

In a separate post, Garcia appeared to suggest a tainted herbal supplement was to blame for the test result.

"My bad I shouldn't have took this," Garcia wrote above a photo of a bottle marked "Ashwagandha Root."