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World Boxing Council (WBC) President Mauricio Sulaiman has responded to a social media post by Devin Haney concerning the organization's drug testing procedures.
It all began after a comment on social media platform X suggested that Ryan Garcia would be tested as a WBC super lightweight titleholder and, consequently, part of the organization's Clean Boxing Program. In response, Haney posted on Monday: “I was a WBC champion for years and was never tested.”
The discussion intensified after Garcia reacted angrily to Shakur Stevenson, who recently signed with "Zuffa Boxing" and is reportedly in talks for a fight with Haney. Stevenson had suggested that Garcia undergo random drug testing by VADA.
In April 2024, Haney lost to Garcia on points, but the result was overturned after it was revealed that Garcia had failed two drug tests – one on the eve of the fight and another immediately after. Garcia, who also failed to make weight for the super lightweight bout by 1.5 kilograms, was subsequently suspended for one year.
Garcia has always maintained his innocence, while Haney, who was undefeated before that fight, remains frustrated by the events.
“Hey champ,” Sulaiman wrote in response to the 27-year-old boxer. “Why are you involving the WBC in your issues – of course, you’ve passed numerous VADA tests.”
Haney retorted: “My issues are not with the WBC; it’s news to me that all my VADA tests were uploaded to the WBC system. All my VADA tests were paid for out of my own pocket in an attempt to change boxing and make it safer.”
“Ryan is running from the fact that VADA has the strictest testing. Especially year-round testing,” he added.
On Tuesday, the WBC President responded: “The WBC Clean Boxing Program started over 10 years ago, a unique program in the world, administered by VADA. All champions and top 15 boxers must enroll and are subject to random tests, mandatory tests in specific cases, and agreed-upon tests by promoters for fights. Devin Haney has been tested more than 70 times, with results always coming back negative.”
Haney, with a record of 33-0-1 (15 KOs), is the current WBO super lightweight champion.
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