DEVIN Haney has doubled down on his desire to advocate for a clean sport in 2025, signing up for year-round testing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).
The 26-year-old suffered a punishing defeat to Ryan Garcia last year, climbing off the canvas three times before losing a majority decision.
His rival’s controversial victory, however, was then overturned to a no-contest once it emerged that Garcia had tested positive for ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug, following two separate pre-fight VADA tests.
And yet, after claiming that the adverse finding was the result of contamination, the 26-year-old was only handed a lenient year-long ban by the New York State Athletic Commission.
Since then, Haney has filed a lawsuit against Garcia – alleging battery, fraud and breach of contract – in response to his doping violations.
And while this legal action may not give him the desired outcome, it is nonetheless a show of his intention to improve the sport of boxing.
Sure enough, the American has now cemented his stance by joining VADA’s 24/7/365 program, meaning he will be tested both in and out of competition until January 2, 2026.
Few boxers in the past have signed up to such stringent drug testing, with Haney being the first in 2025 to take part in the year-long program.
Of course, the majority of boxing’s leading promoters – and, in some cases, the fighters themselves – will pay for VADA testing, though the frequency of which is ultimately determined by whatever budgets are set aside.
Instead, VADA’s 24/7/365 program ensures that random drug testing is carried out all year round, regardless of whether a fighter is in training camp.
