Conor McGregor Issues Warning to Ryan Garcia After Performance Drug Scandal

Boxing champion Conor McGregor has seen many new pugilists enter the ring over the years, including rising star Ryan Garcia. McGregor went so far as to call Garcia the "future of boxing" last year, but it's safe to say after Garcia tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, McGregor is no longer a fan.

News broke on May 1 that Garcia tested positive for ostarine before his April 20 fight against Devin Haney, which Garcia handily won. Ostarine is a substance known to help with performance and recovery without the side effects common with steroid use. On May 2, McGregor expressed his disappointment in Garcia in a since-deleted X post.

"Cheated the weight and was juiced," he said, according to TMZ, calling for Garcia to receive a "lifetime ban."

"Sad to see, sad to say. Sad and a bit sick," he continued. "Don't come near me if I see you ever, Ryan Garcia. I am actually disgusted."

McGregor then took aim at boxer Sean O'Malley, who tested positive for ostarine himself in 2018 and 2019.

"This ostarine it reminds me of Sean O'Malley. [He] was on that as well. I don't like this. I'll bust you both up; do you want a spar? I will set flights right now for you both for a full on spar each," he said, inviting them both to The Black Forge Inn, a Dublin pub and event space where McGregor recently invested $2 million. "Two little ostarine heads. I'll ride you both like you are ostriches. Wtf is up? What do you think you are at?" he said.

McGregor then took a moment to stand up for Devin Haney amid his loss in what was now revealed to be an unfair fight.

"If I was Haney's dad you're dead no matter what for doing that. Crazy," he said before turning his attention back to Garcia. "What the [f--k] happened to you, you little fool? Get your head together [because] I'm gonna smash it in with [my] elbows if you don't."

"Fair play, Devin. Well done. Your performance has just become even more heroic! Bravo," he said. He went on to issue one last threat to Garcia in all caps: "Get your head together or kill yourself."

Garcia, for his part, has adamantly denied any doping claims. "Everybody knows that I don't cheat," the 25-year-old said in a video posted on social media. "Never taken a steroid... I don't even know where to get steroids."

"I barely take supplements," he concluded. As for his victory over Haney, Garcia believes he won fair and square: "I beat his a--."

For now, barring any last-minute challenges from Garcia or O'Malley, McGregor's next scheduled fight is set for June 29 at UFC 303.