Search icon

Boxing

23rd Feb 2023

The reason behind Conor Benn’s failed drug test is mind-bogglingly ridiculous

Lee Costello

Conor Benn

Benn’s excuse was deemed as a “reasonable explanation for the Adverse Finding.”

Conor Benn is back in the World Boxing Council rankings again after his failed drug test was deemed as “unintentional” and that the positive result came from eating too many eggs.

Benn was due to fight Chris Eubank JR last October in an all-British showdown that would see history repeat itself, with the two fighter’s fathers enjoying a famous rivalry in the ’90s.

The fight was called off just one day before the event when it was revealed that Benn had failed two voluntary drug tests for the female fertility drug clomifene.

Conor Benn

The 26-year-old originally claimed that he had been contaminated and has declared his innocence repeatedly online.

In a full statement, the WBC said it found “there was no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of clomifene”.

“There were no failures in the procedures related to sample collection, sample analysis, or violations of Mr. Benn’s B Sample rights that would justify questioning or invalidating the Adverse Finding, and Mr. Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the Adverse Finding.”

Conor Benn

So, according to these findings, the reason Benn failed the two tests was due to a “highly-elevated consumption of eggs”, something that has never happened before in boxing.

The British Boxing Board of Control said it was aware of the WBC’s findings but added: “Whilst the BBBofC wishes to make clear that it respects the WBC, the WBC is a sanctioning body and not a governing body.

“The decision of the WBC does not affect the ongoing implementation of the BBBofC’s rules.”

Conor Benn

The WBC intends to work with Benn and his team in the future to “avoid the risk of a future adverse finding caused by nutritional factors”.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said Benn was “ready to resume his career”.

“This is now about finding places for Conor Benn to box,” Hearn told the Boxing Social podcast.

Conor Benn

“Conor Benn can box anywhere in the world, but to box in the UK he has to go through a process, and we don’t know how long that process is going to take.

“He’s in the gym. He’s been in the gym for the last six weeks. He’s ready to fight.”

Related links: