Conor Benn has been removed from The Ring Magazine’s rankings as the British Board of Control investigation into him stalls.
The young, undefeated welterweight’s career was plunged into doubt last year following news of two failed doping tests for banned substance, clomiphene.
Benn has claimed innocence ever since, but has chosen to relinquish his British license and not cooperate with his home governing body’s investigation into the tests. Instead he has said he will pursue legal action.
Instead, the fighter focused on an investigation conducted by the WBC, the sanctioning body who, in partnership with VADA, administered the first failed test.
The WBC’s investigation, which was provided 270 pages of evidence by Benn, concluded that there was no contamination afoot, but that a reasonable explanation for the substance in his body was a highly-elevated consumption of eggs.
Benn was unhappy with the way the verdict was reached, but has accepted being returned to the WBC’s rankings.
That’s the only major ranking system he currently features in, though. The WBA, WBO and IBF have no mention of him in their latest updates, and The Ring magazine’s panel has now voted to remove him.
The conversation between the panel members – which can be read here – ultimately decided to remove the 26-year-old due to his lack of cooperation with the British board.
Benn is said to be making a ring return in June, with Abu Dhabi on the 3rd the front runner. However, promoter Eddie Hearn has also mentioned America as a possible location for his fighter’s comeback bout.
Opponents are still up in the air, with conversations ongoing with Chris Eubank Jr, Manny Pacquiao and an unnamed US fighter.
Should it be Eubank – not a welterweight – or Pacquiao – currently retired – whatever ranking he does have or will gain in the future will not be affected.