Professional boxer Ryan Garcia is accusing NutraBio Labs (Middlesex, NJ) of selling contaminated products containing the banned substance ostarine. The product manufacturer has rejected the “reckless claims.”
On the day before and day of his fight in April against Devin Haney, Garcia failed a drug test, testing positive for ostarine both times. Testing was provided by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
As reported by USA Today, Garcia’s lawyers provided copies of “confidential test reports,” showing ostarine was detected in NutraBio’s SuperCarb Raspberry Lemonade and Body Health Perfect Amino Strawberry Flavor.
Garcia won the fight by “majority decision,” but adamantly denied taking any banned substance.
“Throughout his career, Ryan has voluntarily submitted to numerous tests, all of which have returned negative results, underscoring his commitment to fair and clean competition,’’ Garcia’s lawyers said. “Additionally, multiple negative tests leading up to his fight against Haney further affirm his clean record. The ultra-low levels of ostarine detected in his samples, in the billionth of a gram range, along with his clean hair sample proves contamination rather than intentional ingestion. The recent test results reiterate this.’’
Haney took to social media to lambaste his opponent’s allegations, saying “[Garcia] found someone to blame.”
NutraBio Founder and CEO Mark Glazier responded to the allegations: “NutraBio categorically rejects the reckless claims made by professional boxer Ryan Garcia and his team that the NutraBio SuperCarb product caused Mr. Garcia’s positive test for ostarine. Our company has consistently maintained a rigorous quality control process. NutraBio has never manufactured a supplement with ostarine and has never brought ostarine into our manufacturing facility for use in any product, ever. We have a long-standing commitment to producing the highest-quality supplements, trusted by athletes worldwide.”
Glazier said a retain of the SuperCarb lot was tested at third-party labs accredited by both Eurofins and Banned Substance Control Group (BSCG). Independent testing detected no ostarine in the product.
“Any express or implied statements suggesting that our product contained ostarine when it was sold are completely unfounded,” Glazier said. “Making defamatory statements about our product and brand that rely on test results done on an unsealed, expired container handled by the accused individual has no credibility.”
Glazier further added the “miniscule amount” of ostarine detected in the open container of SuperCarb does not account for the amount of ostarine in Garcia’s urine, which was 60 times the testing limit.
“We take any claims against our company extremely seriously and stand by our process for ensuring the quality, safety, and security of our products,” Glazier said.
The New York State Athletic Commission will decide on whether the fight should be overturned.
