Following reports that a Conor Benn drug test has returned adverse findings of a banned substance, the British Boxing Board of Control have released a statement in response.
One of the biggest boxing events of the year was plunged into doubt today as the Daily Mail broke the news that Benn was found to have traces of Clomifene in his system – a drug that is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substances list. The young fighter was due to come up in weight to face Chris Eubank Jr in a contest that saw a family feud revisited.
The BBBofC have now answered calls to comment on the situation, releasing an official statement which reads as follows:
“On the evening of 4th October 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 8th October 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 5th October 2022.”
The statement follows one by both promoters this afternoon confirming that the fight was to go ahead as scheduled. The words from Wasserman and Matchroom also highlighted that both fighters were still on board with the competition.
As of the time of writing, the media workout for the bout is taking place and we await word from the organisers in response to the board’s statement – although it has to be said that, with these words from the BBBofC, it’s hard to imagine Benn and Eubank Jr in the ring come Saturday night.
— BBBofC (@BBBofCuk) October 5, 2022