Conor Benn Fails Drug Test Days Ahead Of Chris Eubank Jr Fight
UPDATE (10/5/22 4:23 PM ET): The fight has been called off by the British Boxing Board of Control because of Benn’s failed drug test.
The BBBofC said Conor Benn-Chris Eubank Jr. is not allowed to take place after Benn failed a test for the banned substance clomifene. Eddie Hearn is attempting to obtain a court injunction to allow the fight to proceed as planned, a source told ESPN. https://t.co/4nxRm5VJYS
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) October 5, 2022
One avenue explored to allow Conor Benn-Chris Eubank Jr. to proceed, sources tell ESPN, is the Luxembourg Boxing Federation. It sanctioned the 2012 Haye-Chisora fight in London after BBBoC prohibited bout due to physical altercation. BBBoC prohibited after positive Benn test
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) October 5, 2022
The Conor Benn-Chris Eubank Jr showdown might have encountered a problem.
Benn reportedly failed a drug test after clomifene was found in his system, according to a report in the Daily Mail. Clomifene is a substance on the banned list of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which is typically used to treat infertility in women.
Eubank, however, still wants to go forward with the fight.
“We took medical advice,” Kalle Sauerland, Eubank’s promoter told TalkSport.
“It can raise testosterone levels but the experts we consulted couldn’t see that it was giving an advantage. So on the basis of that we discussed straight away with the most important person on our side, who is the athlete. He was happy to continue.
“We spoked to Benn as well directly, there was a direct discussion between the two. I am not privileged to that discussion but they had a personal discussion on it.”
It probably won’t be up to Eubank’s decision, but the fight is still reported to go on Saturday night.
The test was done by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency and is now being investigated. Fight week events – including a media workout scheduled for Wednesday afternoon – have yet to be called off.
“We have been made aware that a random anti-doping test for Conor Benn conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association returned an adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug,” Matchroom Boxing said in a press statement.
“The B sample has yet to be tested, meaning that no rule violation has been confirmed. Indeed, Mr Benn has not been charged with any rule violation, he is not suspended, and he remains free to fight.
“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. Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice, are aware of all relevant information, and wish to proceed with the bout this Saturday.”
Benn was removed from WBC rankings in January after not joining the Clean Boxing Program with VADA. He returned to the rankings after signing up.