Ryan Garcia is officially eligible to compete for a World Boxing Council title again.
According to ESPN, the WBC confirmed that they have lifted their ban on the 26-year-old fighter, reversing the expulsion that followed a series of racist and anti-Muslim remarks he made on social media last year.
The ban was first handed down in July 2024, when Garcia used racial slurs toward Black people and made disparaging comments about Muslims during livestreams and posts viewed widely online.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman responded at the time with a public statement, saying he was acting under his authority to remove Garcia from “any activity” within the organization. “We reject any form of discrimination,” Sulaiman wrote. He also noted concern for Garcia’s overall stability, adding that the fighter had “declined multiple attempts for our help with mental health and substance abuse.”
The comments arrived during a turbulent period for Ryan Garcia, who had already received a one-year suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine following his bout with Devin Haney.
That fight was initially recorded as a win for Garcia, but the result was later overturned to a no contest. The suspension and subsequent fallout marked the start of a year filled with uncertainty regarding his boxing future.
Garcia’s family released a statement last year distancing themselves from the comments. They said the remarks did not “reflect who Ryan truly is and how he was raised,” emphasizing their commitment to ensuring he sought help to address his mental health.
Garcia’s legal team also continued to deny intentional PED use, claiming the positive test resulted from contaminated supplements.
Now, the WBC says it is ready to move forward with him. In an announcement posted to social media, the organization wrote, “The WBC has been very close to Ryan, his family, management, and promoter, and we trust a new life inside and outside the ring will begin. We welcome you with open arms and trust you will be an ambassador for the new generation.”
With the ban lifted, discussions are underway about possible next steps for Garcia. A matchup with current WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios has reportedly been explored, though no agreement has been finalized.
Barrios is coming off a majority draw against Manny Pacquiao in July, while Garcia has not fought since his upset loss to Rolly Romero in May.