Benn’s temporary punishment for
Benn’s temporary punishment for doping has been removed.
Following a two-year struggle with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and UK Anti-Doping (Ukad).
Conor Benn’s temporary suspension has been removed.
The 28-year-old welterweight Benn has a 23-0 record and is undefeated, but in 2022.
He tested positive twice for the illegal medication Clomifene, which is used to treat female fertility.
After Ukad claimed that the Board and the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP).
Were “not comfortably satisfied” that they had established his violation of anti-doping rules, his punishment was lifted.
According to Benn, he has always been “an champion for clean sport” and has been “cleared of any misconduct”.
In a statement posted on X., external, Benn stated.
This past 24 months has certainly been the toughest fight of my life.
“[It ] been� a rollercoaster period in which the NADP initially concluded that there was no case to answer and that I was free to compete.
And the WBC had already decided that I was innocent.
Although they are examining the ruling in accordance with appeal rights.
Ukad claims that the “charge against him has been consequently dismissed.”
They can file such appeal within 21 days.
The BBBofC has been contacted by BBC Sport for comment.
Ukad further stated that without Benn’s approval, it is “unable to publicly release” the NADP’s whole conclusion at this time.
One of the main problems with Benn’s case was that the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) administered the drug tests, and Matchroom Boxing, Benn’s promoters, paid for them rather than Ukad.
Benn intends to reschedule a fight with Chris Eubank Jr. now that he is free to return to boxing in the UK.
The teams of both competitors are promoting the battle, and it is preferred that it happen in the UK as opposed to Saudi Arabia.
Last month, in the week preceding Artur Beterbiev’s triumph against Dmitry Bivol, Eubank and Benn faced off in the Kingdom. After Eubank stopped Kamil Szeremeta, Benn entered the ring to face his opponent.
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn stated that he anticipates the bout taking place in the first part of 2025.
He declared, “It is the easiest battle in the world to promote,”
“We sold out the O2’s highest gate ever for boxing the first time. I can not even tell you how quickly it sold. It is three or four times larger now with everything,” he remarked.
“I believe it will be available in February or March of 2025. Although AJ-Dubois (Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois) was legendary for British boxing, this will also be the case in Riyadh.
“Having at least one stadium brawl each year is usually pleasant. It would be hopeful for the future if that were accomplished in the first quarter.
How long will it take to resolve Benn’s anti-doping case?
Prior to his postponed fight with fellow Brit Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn failed two voluntary clomifene tests, which resulted to his initial boxing suspension in March 2023.
On October 8, 2022, some 30 years after their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, engaged in combat, the two were set to square off at a catchweight of 157 pounds. The 1990 bout was won by Eubank Sr., while the 1993 rematch ended in a draw.
Clomifene is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) both inside and outside of competition and can be used to increase testosterone levels in men.
According to Robert Smith, general secretary of the BBBofC, Benn is temporarily prohibited from taking part in any competition that his organization has planned, called, approved, or recognized.
Benn has consistently maintained that he did not dope on purpose. The results have been attributed to “contamination” by him. According to his defense, the Vada testing facility had a flaw.
Benn was still being investigated by Ukad and the BBBofC, despite an independent report by the WBC in February 2023 stating that his failed drug test was not deliberate and might have been brought on by a “highly-elevated diet” of eggs.
Benn thought he was allowed to fight in the UK once more when NADP dropped the sanction last July.
In May, however, Ukad’s and the BBBofC’s appeals against that ruling were upheld.
“Seeing what he has endured over the last two years is fairly awful for me.
Knowing and thinking he is innocent,” Hearn remarked.
“Unfortunately, he has gotten into a heated argument with.
The authorities and has not cooperated because of the way the procedure has gone.
“He wanted to appeal, examine, and present his logic and proof, while others would have preferred to simply tidy up the problem.”
Benn has fought twice in the United States, most recently defeating Peter Dobson by a unanimous score in a welterweight fight in Las Vegas in February.
However, it is unclear that American sports commissions, who frequently support the punishments imposed on boxers by their foreign counterparts, would have let Benn to participate in the United Kingdom had he admitted guilt and been banned there.
