The fighter and his team have vowed to get to the bottom of the adverse finding in his drug test, and they’re not alone – the UK Anti-Doping agency are reportedly now keen to do the same.
Following the news that Conor Benn had tested positive for trace amounts clomifene in the lead up to his fight with Chris Eubank Jr, the event was postponed and answers promised. Despite being pulled last minute amidst the drama, promoter Eddie Hearn was keen to stress that his fighter was not suspended.
As reported by the Daily Mail, that may be set to change. Sportsmail has learned that UKAD are interested in taking an investigation forward, despite their own tests on Benn coming back all clear. This is where things get a little confusing for fans.
The information we have is that Conor Benn’s test for the banned substance was administered and analysed by VADA – the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency. This programme of random testing is something that the fighters and promotion pay for on top of the regional – in this case UKAD – anti-doping agency.
VADA are only a testing organisation, and don’t have the authority to hand out or recommend bans for what they find. UKAD, however, are directly linked with the British Boxing Board of Control, and so they do.
VADA have now indicated to the Sportsmail that there is nothing by law stopping them from providing UKAD with what they have gathered on Benn – something many fans will agree should be the case.
Clomifene is an infertility drug that is said to increase testosterone in men. Because of this, it’s on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list and comes with it a potential ban from the sport of up to 4 years. That is, of course, should the investigation formally take place and the fighter is unable to clear his name or provide valid reason.