Conor Benn’s O2 Arena superfight with Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday was thrown into disarray today after a banned substance was found during the pre-fight drug testing.
Clomifene was found to be present in the A-Sample Benn submitted to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Benn’s B-Sample has not yet been tested, but Matchroom have said that the fighter has undertaken a doping control test with UK Anti-Doping. They report there was no banned substances found in this sample.
However, the British Boxing Board of Control has since released a statement saying the bout is “prohibited” from taking place “as it is not in the interests of boxing”.
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Now, Benn has commented on the fiasco, adamant that he is a “clean athlete”, that he hasn’t committed any violation, and the fight is still going ahead.
Speaking to Matchroom Boxing ahead of Wednesday’s public workout, The Destroyer said: “I just wanted to say this personally, obviously you guys have read what the Daily Mail published about me today and I wanted you to hear it from me personally rather than reading it in a statement from me and my team.
“I’ve not committed any violations, I've not been suspended, so as far as I’m concerned, the fight’s still going ahead. I’ve spoken to Chris [Eubank Jr] personally and we both want the fight to go ahead. We’ve both taken medical and legal advice and, as I said, we both want the fight to go ahead for the fans.
“I’ve signed up for every voluntary anti-doping testing there is under the sun. Throughout my whole career I’m tested. All my UK tests have come back negative throughout my whole career, I’ve never had any issues before. In the lead up to this fight, my tests have come back negative, so my team will find out why there’s been an issue or an adverse finding in my test.
But as far as I’m concerned, the fight is still going ahead, I'm a clean athlete and we’ll get to the bottom of this. I just want to thank everyone for their continued support and I'll see you all on Saturday.”
At the time of writing, it looks like the bout will go ahead in the capital this weekend. Whether that’s the correct decision is another matter entirely.
