Ex-Spurs champion blasts Ryan Garcia over PED suspension

06/22/2024 10:45 PM

Former San Antonio Spurs forward Stephen Jackson had a fiery message for Ryan Garcia over the suspended boxer’s use of a performance-enhancing drug for a championship fight against Devin Haney that took place last April. Jackson, who obviously loves and follows the sport of boxing, made his true feelings known about Garcia in a truly blistering manner. Jackson did not hold back about his thoughts on Garcia, who has become one of the most controversial figures in the sport.

Stephen Jackson rips Ryan Garcia

Jackson, who won an NBA title with the Spurs in 2003,  also expressed his disappointment over the fact that Garcia has only been suspended for a year, which was the decision made on the boxer after a settlement with the New York State Athletic Commission.

“I’m not surprised [of Ryan Garcia cheating] because that’s what this world is. Y’all sad. A m**********r can cheat and take steroids to win and y’all still supporting. That’s sad, Jackson said in a video taken while he was inside a vehicle.

“But that goes to show why a lot of y’all sit on Instagram and ain’t accomplished nothing in life. Ain’t one, ain’t did nothing. Because y’all support cheating. If you got a cheat to win in anything, you’re not that. You’re not really good. And you don’t belong doing that. If you got a cheat, it’s just that simple. Real winners never respect cheaters. I never cheated a day in my life in any sport. And never will. And been a champion on every level. If you got a cheat, you don’t belong in a sport. I can’t believe they just banned them for a year. They should have banned them for life. And you got enough confidence in yourself so you got a cheat. Sad.”

Garcia originally scored a majority decision victory over Haney after knocking Haney three times in their bout. However, Garcia was not able to wrestle the WBC junior welterweight title belt away from Haney despite his win after he weighed over the limit prior to the fight. Ryan Garcia also had to forfeit a large amount of his purse after going past the weight limit.

But just when it looked like Garcia somehow got the public’s approval again by demolishing Haney with multiple knockdowns in the fight, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association later revealed that Garcia failed a drug test and that an illegal substance, Ostarine, was found in his system just before his showdown against Haney.

That discovery led to Garcia’s suspension, which, in the eyes of Jackson and many others, was too short for the 25-year-old boxer. The decision in the Haney fight was also changed to a no-contest, while Ryan Garcia was compelled to forfeit his reportedly $1.2 million purse. In addition, the New York State Athletic Commission fined him $10,000.

Garcia, of course, vehemently denied the findings and expressed extreme resentment to his suspension. He then announced his retirement from the sport via a post on X last Wednesday.

The door is still open for Ryan Garcia, who will be turning just 26 this coming August, to return to boxing. He will have several months to reflect on his career, as he serves his suspension. If he has indeed fought his last bout inside the ring, then Garcia’s final lifetime boxing record is 24-1-1 with 20 of his victoris coming via knockouts.

The post Ex-Spurs champion blasts Ryan Garcia over PED suspension appeared first on ClutchPoints.