“It’s definitely a move by their PR team,” Garcia said. “They keep saying that just so they can erase those a** takes he took. He took a bad a** whooping.”
The exchange brought Garcia back from the suspension that followed his failed test for Ostarine. He repeated his claim that the punishment was disproportionate compared to other cases and said the 12-month ban was imposed to make an example of him rather than reflect precedent.
“As you can see with everyone else caught with Ostarine, they don’t get 12 months. I got 12 months,” Garcia said. “So they definitely made an example of me. That’s okay. We did our time for a crime we didn’t do, and we’re ready to move forward.”
Garcia is scheduled to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on February 21. The fight serves as a reset after a difficult stretch that included the suspension and a loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025. Unlike that fight, this fight puts a full WBC title in front of him.
Questions about drug testing quickly followed. Garcia said surveillance of the fight was tight and dismissed suggestions that his appearance should raise suspicion.
“VADA test. What do you think we’re doing?” Garcia said. “You don’t think they’re going to test? Yes, they test. I train hard. When someone else has a six pack, they’re in shape. When I have one, people say steroids.”
Garcia also said that if he wins the title, he will be willing to face WBC mandatory challenger Conor Benn next.
For now, Garcia said his focus remains on the fight itself. Preparation and supervision are already in place. The rest, including the latest comments from Devin Haney, are not part of his thinking as he moves to February 21st.
