Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn is OFF after Benn’s positive drug test

Conor Benn’s fight with Chris Eubank Jr has been called off Sportsmails revelation that Benn had tested positive for a prohibited substance.

Promoter Eddie Hearn initially insisted that Saturday night’s fight at London’s O2 Arena would go ahead, as Benn had not received the result of his B sample after traces of a clomiphene were found in his system.

However, the British Boxing Board of Control has intervened to rule that continuing the catchweight contest would be ‘not in the best interest’ of the sport.

Tens of millions of pounds will be lost as a result of that decision. Both Eubank Jr and Benn had six-figure purses for the reprise of the epic rivalry between their fathers.

This is an important step by the Board of Trustees, which in some cases has been crippled in the past by the threat of costly legal action. The fact that they have withdrawn their sanction for this event shows how serious they consider the situation.

The substance in question, clomiphene, which is commonly used to treat infertility in women but can increase testosterone in men, has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Benn’s test was conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which also bans the substance.

That apparently happened in late August or early September and Benn was apparently notified two weeks ago.

Hearn was confident that subsequent tests by UKAD, the UK testing agency, which were negative, would be enough to allow the fight to continue.

Benn now faces a long wait for confirmation or approval through his B sample.

Whether the fight can be moved depends on that outcome. Benn has gained weight and muscle to reach nearly two divisions for the catchweight clash.

Eubank, on the other hand, had to get to three pounds below his normal welter weight.

His namesake’s father had expressed concern that this weight loss, as well as a rehydration clause limiting the number of pounds he could gain after Friday’s scheduled weigh-in, could be dangerous for him.

That fear would have increased if Benn had indeed gained weight from substance abuse.

Hearn would request a High Court injunction to prevent the Board from pulling the plug.

Sports post exclusively revealed on Wednesday morning that the 26-year-old had been notified that he had returned an adverse finding for the banned substance clomiphene.

Eubank Jr still wanted the match to go on. A statement from promoters Wasserman Boxing and Eddie Hearn’s matchroom, in response to: Sportsmails exclusive, read: “Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice, are aware of all pertinent information and are looking to continue the fight next Saturday.”

The positive test does not automatically lead to a ban. The British Board of Boxing Control has designated the British Anti-Doping Agency as the anti-doping authority for this fight and Benn has not tested positive with them.

In January, Benn, a welterweight on a blazing fast track thanks to his perfect 21-0 record, was briefly removed from the WBC world rankings for failing to enroll in their clean athlete program.

At the time, he said in a statement: “The World Boxing Council (WBC) has temporarily removed me from their January rankings and asked to remain ranked under the WBC governing body, I must officially enroll in the WBC Clean Boxing Program supported by VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association).

“I can confirm that I have instructed my team that I am now enrolling. I wanted to personally raise this with the boxing community and my fans.

“It’s important to me as a professional athlete to enroll in a clean testing program and play my role in keeping our sport safe, along with having my name listed in the top five of all governing bodies.”

Benn is currently fifth with the WBC and in the top five with the other three major sanctioning bodies.

Clomiphene is on the banned lists of both WADA and VADA under ‘hormone and metabolism modulators’.

Wasserman and Matchroom’s joint statement today reads: “We have been notified that a randomized anti-doping test for Conor Benn conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association produced an adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug.

“The B sample has yet to be tested, which means no rule violation has been identified. Indeed, Mr Benn has not been charged with any rule violation, he has not been suspended and he remains free to fight.

Mr Benn has since passed a doping control test conducted by the British Anti-Doping Agency, the anti-doping authority to which the British Board of Boxing Control has delegated its pre-match doping control tests. Mr Benn has passed all UKAD doping controls.”

The British Boxing Board of Control, which oversees the fight, has been approached for comment.

Benn moves up nearly two weight divisions for Saturday’s fight against his bigger rival Eubank Jr.

Eubank is a 160lb career middleweight while Benn usually fights at 147lbs. Saturday’s fight is set at 157 pounds.

Last month Benn said, “I eat a lot. There are plenty of things you can eat. I don’t eat much meat, I’m not a big fan, but on Saturdays I eat steak.

“I can eat whatever I want, as long as it’s healthy and clean.”

Saturday’s fight will be live on streaming service DAZN, with non-subscribers paying £27.98 to watch. Subscribers from £7.99 per month pay an extra £19.99 to watch.

In an interview with The Telegraph this week, Eubank Jr said: ‘As fighters we take risks, we gamble and I don’t believe Conor will be able to take me into deep waters.

“Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t feel like he’ll be able to, so I’ve agreed to this weight.”

Undefeated Albanian boxer Florian Marku has vowed to fight Eubank Jr in London after Benn’s positive test, if their showdown were called off.

Marku tweeted: ‘Conor fails drug test? I am not impressed. If Chris Eubank Jr wants it, I’m ready.”