Chris Eubank Jr has said that ‘MIA’ Conor Benn must answer to the people amidst the ongoing doping scandal that could see him banned from the sport.
The reputation of British boxing was shaken by news of Benn’s two failed drug tests for banned substance, Clomiphene. The British Board of Control prohibited his fight with Eubank just days before it was due to happen, and Benn has since relinquished his license.
He’s currently believed to be making a case for his innocence, but has provided few details to the public about that. Eubank feels that his actions are problematic, as captured by Boxing Social.
“What’s my feeling on it? I don’t know. I don’t know what’s happening. He’s MIA. He’s gone into hiding – which doesn’t look good. He needs to answer for the things that have gone on.”
“Yeah, he did that [gave up his British Boxing license] which is another red flag. What can you do here? He can’t hide forever. Eventually he’s going to have to come out and speak to the people.”
Eubank, who is now due to face Liverpool’s Liam Smith in a middleweight contest on January 21, went further to IFL TV, claiming innocent people don’t hide and that he may never be forgiven. In fact, he believes his potential future opponent is guilty whatever he does.
“You don’t hide if you’re innocent. I keep hearing all this talk about he’s employing all these lawyers and scientists. Conor, it doesn’t matter, it’s done. Even if you’re not guilty, you’re guilty. Own up to it, accept it, and ask for forgiveness. That’s your only shot. It’s your only way out of this.
If you keep doing this ‘trying to prove me wrong, I’m the victim, look at me and feel sorry for me’ no one’s ever going to forgive you.”
Whilst many fans will agree with the Brighton middleweight, Benn’s counter argument would likely be that legal proceedings are prohibiting his team from revealing anything more at this stage.
That may be true, but his almost-opponent’s words still ring true – when the time comes to face the people, there are questions to answer that determine how boxing fans view him and his career as it proceeds.
It’s widely expected that Benn will plead a case of contamination, however very little of note has been revealed since the news of the failed tests. Clomiphene – the substance in question – is typically a female fertility drug but can also raise testosterone in men, hence it’s inclusion on the World Anti Doping Agency banned list.