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Boxer Ryan Garcia apologizes for using racial slurs, says he is going to rehab

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2019 file photo, Ryan Garcia, looks on after landing a punch to Romero Duno (not seen) during their lightweight boxing match in Las Vegas. Garcia meets Britains Luke Campbell, a 2012 Olympic champion, in an interim WBC lightweight title fight. The bout was postponed a month and moved from California after Campbell tested positive for COVID-19.(AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, File) (Isaac Brekken, Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Ryan Garcia apologized in a series of social media posts on Friday after he used racial slurs against Black people and disparaged Muslims in livestreamed comments.

The 25-year-old Garcia, who was expelled by the World Boxing Council on Thursday over his remarks, also announced on the social media platform X that he was going to rehab.

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“I take all responsibility for my words,” Garcia wrote in one post. “And it's been a tough couple of months as everyone can tell but I AM SORRY.”

Garcia added: “I struggle with substance abuse and it hard for me with everything going on.”

Last month, Garcia was suspended for a year by the New York State Athletic Commission, which also ruled that his April 20 victory over Devin Haney would be considered a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

After his apology, Garcia posted several more times. Among his comments: “I stand on the fact that a black man can be racist” and “In the hood everyone has said the N word.”

Garcia also complained that other fighters had made racist statements without being disciplined by the WBC.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports


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