Conor Benn is being charged by UKAD for his two positive drug tests that scrapped his fight against Chris Eubank Jr last October – with the fighter facing a TWO YEAR suspension from the sport if found guilty
- Conor Benn has been formally charged by UKAD after failing two drug tests
- The 26-year-old fighter faces a two-year suspension if found guilty of the sport
- He tested positive for clomiphene twice, but has always pleaded his innocence
Conor Benn faces a possible two-year suspension after being formally charged by UK Anti-Doping over his two positive drug tests.
Mail Sport revealed on Tuesday that the fighter had reversed his decision to withhold evidence from investigators and is currently serving a temporary suspension.
UKAD have now confirmed that the 26-year-old has been charged under section 2.2 of their ‘use’ rules.
“Following media coverage and comments made by professional boxer Conor Benn on Tuesday 18 April 2023, and in exceptional circumstances, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) confirms that Mr Benn was notified by UKAD on 15 March 2023 and provisionally suspended in accordance with UK anti-doping rules.
“While provisionally suspended, Mr Benn is prohibited from participating in any capacity (or assisting another athlete in any capacity) in any competition, event or activity organized, convened, authorized or recognized by the British Boxing Board of Control or any other World Anti-Doping Code compliant sport.
Conor Benn has been formally charged by UKAD after failing a drug test twice last year
His positive tests for clomiphene led to his fight against Chris Eubank Jr. being canceled. was deleted last year
UKAD can also confirm that on 3 April 2023 it charged Mr Benn with a breach of Article 2.2 for alleged use of a banned substance (clomiphene). The charge against Mr Benn is pending and will now follow the results management process in accordance with the UK Anti-Doping Rules.
UKAD makes this statement in accordance with its Policy on Public Disclosure of Provisional Suspensions and Charges and Articles 7.10.7 and 7.11.5 of the UK Anti-Doping Rules. UKAD will not comment further at this stage.’
Benn has always maintained his innocence, often calling himself a “clean athlete,” and recently appeared on Piers Morgan to reveal how the ordeal left him with suicidal thoughts.
In February, he was cleared of intentional doping by the WBC – which ruled that the positive test could have come from a high consumption of eggs.
However, UKAD’s ongoing investigation – coupled with his ban by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) meant he couldn’t fight in the UK, but had instead tried to set up his next fight abroad.
Benn has always maintained his innocence and was cleared by the WBC in February – although he was still under investigation and banned by the BBBofC
Benn remains adamant that he is free to fight on foreign shores despite the suspension
This week, Mail Sport revealed that Benn had been provisionally suspended by UKAD – with the fighter notified of the decision last month.
Benn still intends to go ahead with a summer fight in Abu Dhabi on June 3, but under UKAD rules – which are followed by the Board of Control – those sides could eventually lose their Board license if they go ahead.
Reacting to the news of his provisional suspension, Benn pointed to Amir Khan’s recent doping suspension, which only came to light 14 months after testing positive.
Benn wrote on Twitter: ‘I can’t say anything about UKAD except that I am in contact with them. Someone at the BBBoC or UKAD clearly wanted to make a headline in opposition to the Khan case where it was kept quiet for 14 months, but this is nothing new. I remain free to fight outside the UK.”
He added, “This isn’t even about my innocence anymore, it’s all politics. You can’t stop a good man.’