The boxing world continues to react to the news that a banned substance was found in one of Conor Benn’s drug test results, thus putting a stop to his fight with Chris Eubank Jr.
Much has been said and speculated since the news, and it seems everybody in boxing – from the fans to the pundits to the fighters – is keen to have their say. Conor Benn was due to face Eubank in the biggest fight of his career, and perhaps one of the most discussed British sporting events of the year.
The fight was pulled following a news story detailing a positive test for clomifene – a drug said to increase testosterone levels. John Fury, father of the current WBC Heavyweight Champion, is clear in what should happen if Benn had broken the rules. He spoke to SecondsOut about the case.
“What can I say? If Conor Benn’s been using, ban the f**ker. Ban him. Because it’s a dangerous sport.”
“Whatever they do, whatever they don’t – I’m having no opinion on it at all, you know, a man’s innocent until proven guilty and I’ve been in the position myself when you’ve been pronounced guilty before the trial. So, until the B sample comes up, I’m going to say the benefit of the doubt to Conor Benn.”
“If it comes out in the B sample he’s been using, ban him. There’s no more to be said, is there?”
Another person keen to have an input into the discussion is Benn himself. He has insisted that he’s a clean fighter and promised to get to the bottom of the doping result. As John Fury says, he remains innocent until proven otherwise.
With news that the UK Anti-doping Agency may now be considering an investigation into the case, the young fighter will be keen to try and clear things up sooner rather than later, as a ban of up to 4 years awaits if not.