Conor Benn has failed a drugs test ahead of his blockbuster clash with Chris Eubank Jr at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.
The 26-year-old returned an “adverse analytical finding” in a sample following an anti-doping test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, promoters Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing said in a joint statement that was also shared by Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn.
Following the news, which was first broken by The Daily Mail on Wednesday, October 5, the promoters also confirmed that “no rule violation” had been confirmed on the part of Benn as he had not yet had his B sample tested. They added that “he remains free to fight” as he has not been charged with any breach of regulations.
“Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice, are aware of all relevant information, and wish to proceed with the bout this Saturday,” the statement added.
However, the British Boxing Board of Control later said that the scheduled fight “is prohibited as it is not in the interests of boxing”, adding that both camps had been informed of that decision on October 5.
Conor Benn drugs test: What happened?
The Daily Mail reported on October 5 that Benn had tested positive for banned substance clomifene in a random anti-doping test carried out by VADA.
Promoters Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing later stated that Benn had returned an “adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug”.
The promoters’ statement then added: “Mr Benn has since passed a doping control test conducted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency, the anti-doping authority to which the British Board of Boxing Control has delegated its doping control testing for the bout. Mr Benn has passed all doping control tests conducted by UKAD.”
Will Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn go ahead?
Shortly after Benn’s adverse finding was confirmed, promoters Matchroom and Wasserman said both camps wished for the fight to go ahead on October 8.
“Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice, are aware of all relevant information, and wish to proceed with the bout this Saturday,” their joint statement said.
The fact that Benn had passed the doping control test conducted by UKAD — the anti-doping body in charge of testing for the bout this weekend — was a key part of the decision to go ahead with the fight, according to Kalle Sauerland, Eubank Jr’s promoter.
Sauerland told talkSPORT on Wednesday: “There has been a trace finding of a female fertility drug in a voluntary testing scheme, which is in addition to the UKAD testing scheme, the British Boxing Board of Control’s testing scheme.
“At the end of August, beginning of September, there was a test taken by Benn in which there was this female fertility drug and that was then relayed to us when those tests came back.
“The British board follows UKAD and all those tests were presented to us as negative and that’s the position from a licensing point of view that we have received.”
Describing the substance identified in the VADA test, Sauerland said: “It’s a non-PED [Performance Enhancing Drug], but at the same time it can raise the testosterone levels, but the experts we consulted couldn’t see that it was giving an advantage.
“So, on the basis of that, we discussed with the most important person on our side and that’s the athlete and he was happy to continue. We spoke to Benn directly, there was a direct discussion between the two, but I’m not privileged to that discussion, I wasn’t part of that discussion.
“The summary of what we’ve received is that there was this trace finding, but the key for me here is the UKAD findings and the medical advice, which is probably the most important thing here, because we’re talking about a physical combat sport, so that for me is the be-all and end-all.
“The first thing you think when you hear “positive doping test” is that the fight’s off. Then, you have to look into what it is.
“It’s very clear there’s been a big mistake here from the other side, but ultimately has it been done as a PED? No. That’s what the medical opinions are.
“The fight on Saturday is on.”
However, a statement from the British Boxing Board of Control later on October 5 said both fighters had been informed that the bout could not go ahead.
The statement said: “On the evening of October 4, 2022, the Board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on October 8, 2022 is prohibited as it is not in the interests of boxing. That was communicated to the boxers and promoters involved on the morning of October 5, 2022.”Â
Eddie Hearn later said in a video released by Matchroom: “We’ve just seen the British Boxing Board of Control Statement, which is pretty straightforward. It’s with the lawyers going backwards and forwards now.
“Both guys signed up to a multitude of testing for this fight. The UKAD testing, which is obviously the testing agency the British Boxing Board of Control use and are governed by, have all been clear and negative.
“There was an adverse finding in a VADA test previously. There’s not been an official doping violation. There’s a process that has to be gone through.
“Conor Benn is not suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control. Ultimately, he can’t be, because he’s passed all the tests from UKAD. But clearly, the British Boxing Board of Control will take a position on it.
“Both camps have been made aware, of course, previously to the article coming out about the situation. Both camps prepared to progress with the fight, but ultimately, the conversations have to be had with the lawyers, the teams, and the British Boxing Board of Control.”
