Honorable Benn insists he is a clean athlete as he vowed to clear his name after a failed drug test.
Saturday night’s big game against Chris Eubank Jr was officially postponed earlier on Thursday after a dramatic 48 hours in British boxing.
Benn was set to take on Eubank Jr weighing 157 pounds at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night in a lucrative, high-profile main event that saw both fighters earn a seven-figure fee as they battle the epic rivalry of their respective fathers – Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr – in the nineties.
Those plans were thrown into disarray Wednesday, however, when reports claimed Benn sent back an unfavorable analytical finding for trace amounts of the compound clomiphene — a female fertility drug that can increase testosterone levels in men and has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) — to following a sample taken by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) on September 23.
Benn protested his innocence during open practice later in the day and promoters Matchroom and Wasserman insisted the fight would still go on with the support of both fighters, despite the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) ban that Ben passed. all other tests, including those conducted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD), the body used by the BBBoC.
Conor Benn has protested his innocence after failing a drug test
/ Mark Robinson Matchroom BoxingThey sought a Supreme Court injunction to overturn the BBBoC’s decision after Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn ruled out using a foreign governing body to sanction the match. That hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, but fears that the verdict might not come until Friday, it was decided to postpone the fight.
“After consultations with various parties, we have made the decision to formally postpone the fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn,” said a joint statement from Matchroom and Wasserman on Thursday. “It cannot be denied that the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to withdraw their sanction was procedurally flawed and without due process. That remains a legal issue between the promoters and the board that we want to pursue.
“However, while there are legal routes for the fight to take place as planned, we do not believe it is in the best interests of the fighters for them to be pursued at such a late stage, or in the wider interest of the sport. As promoters “We take our obligations and duties very seriously, and a full investigation will now have to take place. We will not be commenting further at this time and news of ticket holder refunds will follow.”
Matchroom Chief Hearn – who promotes Benn – and Eubank Jr’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland, later addressed the media in a short press conference that allowed no questions, with Hearn insisting that Benn had not been suspended by the BBBoC and complaining that he had not had received the same due process previously granted to other combatants in similar situations.
A shocked Benn, meanwhile, apologized for the delay, but vowed to clear his name while reiterating that he is a clean athlete.
“I’m really upset that we couldn’t have this fight on Saturday and I’m sorry to everyone affected by this delay,” he said in a statement.
“I’m still completely shocked and surprised by this, and it’s been a rough few days.
“My team and I will consider the following options, including rescheduling the fight, but my immediate focus is on clearing my name because I am a clean athlete!”
On Wednesday, Benn said: “I have committed no offenses, I have not been suspended, as far as I am concerned the fight is still going on.”
He added: “I have signed up for every voluntary anti-doping test out there. All my UKAD tests have come back negative throughout my career. I’ve never had any problems.”