Benn returns positive drug test, throwing showdown with Eubank into chaos
Sample given to VADA has banned substance Clomifene in it
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The fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. was in limbo on Wednesday after it was revealed that Benn failed a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test for a banned substance.
Benn and Eubank, second generation boxers whose heavily hyped 12-round catch weight showdown at 157 pounds has rekindled the British public’s memories of the two epic 1990s middleweight and super middleweight world title bouts between their fathers, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr., is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the sold-out O2 in London.
According to a source with knowledge of the test, Benn provided a sample to VADA on Sept. 1 with the result being returned on Sept. 23 positive for Clomifene, a drug used to treat infertility in women that produces increased testosterone in men and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
England’s Daily Mail broke the news on Wednesday that Benn failed the drug test, after which Benn promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and Eubank promoter Kalle Sauerland of Wasserman Boxing acknowledged the test but said they planned to stage the fight anyway.
“We have been made aware that a random anti-doping test for Conor Benn conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association returned an adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug,” the promoters said in a joint statement. “The B sample has yet to be tested, meaning that no rule violation has been confirmed. Indeed, Mr. Benn has not been charged with any rule violation, he is not suspended, and he remains free to fight.”
Most fights that are canceled are based on only an A sample result as it usually takes weeks to also test the B sample and must be done so at the request of the fighter, who has a right to witness to the sample being opened or have a representative there.
“Mr. Benn has since passed a doping control test conducted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency, the anti-doping authority to which the British Board of Boxing Control has delegated its doping control testing for the bout,” the promoters’ statement continued. “Mr. Benn has passed all doping control tests conducted by UKAD. Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice, are aware of all relevant information, and wish to proceed with the bout this Saturday.”
The British Boxing Board of Control, which regulates boxing in the United Kingdom, later said it was prohibiting the bout.
“On the evening of 4th October 2022, the Board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on 8th October 2022 is prohibited as it is not in the interests of Boxing. That was communicated to the Boxers and Promoters involved on the morning of 5th October 2022,” Robert Smith, the general secretary of the BBBofC said in a statement.
Since Benn has not been suspended by the BBBofC, which relies on UKAD testing and not VADA testing for those rulings, there are questions about whether the BBBofC can cancel the fight. Even though UKAD conducted testing on behalf of the BBBofC, the fighters also contracted for VADA to test them as well.
“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.” — Conor Benn
The promoters may have to seek an injunction in an attempt to force the BBCofC to go forward with the fight.
“It’s with the lawyers going backwards and forwards right now,” Hearn said in an interview with Chris Lloyd of DAZN, which will stream the fight should it go forward. “Both guys signed up to a multitude of testing for this fight. The UKAD testing, which is obviously the testing agency that the British Boxing Board of Control use and are governed by, have all been clear and negative, and there was an adverse finding on a VADA test. So there hasn’t been an official doping violation. There’s a process that has to be gone through. Conor Benn is not suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control. He can’t be because he’s passed all the tests from UKAD.”
Benn (21-14 KOs), 26, a welterweight, who agreed to move up 10 pounds, and his British countryman Eubank (32-3, 23 KOs), 33, a natural middleweight, who agreed to come down from 160 pounds, both appeared at a media workout later Wednesday as though it was business as usual.
Benn, in an interview with DAZN’s Lloyd after his workout, said he passed his UKAD tests and expected to still fight.
“Obviously, you guys have read what the Daily Mail published about me today. I wanted you guys to hear it from personally rather than reading it in a statement from me and my team,” Benn said. “I’ve not committed any violations. I’ve not been suspended. So as far as I’m concerned the fight is still going ahead.
“I’ve spoken to Chris personally and we both want the fight to go ahead. We’ve both taken medial and legal advice and, as we said, we want the fight to happen for the fans. I’ve signed up to every voluntary anti-doping test there is under the sun. Throughout my whole career I’m tested. I’ve always come back negative. I’ve never had any issues before, even in the lead up to this fight my tests have come up negative (other than the failed VADA test). My team will find out why there has been an initial 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.”
Asked about his phone call with Eubank, Benn said his reaction was “he fully believes, he believes in me, and it’s not who I am, or what I’m about. I’m a professional athlete and he was understanding."
Eubank was also interviewed, and said he did not speak with Benn.
“No phone call. We haven’t spoken since this (failed test) has been announced,” Eubank said.
As for the failed test, Eubank said, “I’ve heard the news and all I can do is be a professional and make sure I’m ready to fight. I am ready and as news unfolds then we’ll deal with it. I’ve done my job. I’ve prepared and now it’s in the hands of the promoters, the governing bodies to make this fight happen. All I can do is be ready.”
He said he hopes the fight goes forward.
“He’s ready, I’m ready,” Eubank said. “What the Boxing Board are saying they’re saying and my promoters will do their best to make sure we get the fight going and that he fans are not let down.”
Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
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There's not just a problem with whether UKAD can stop the fight because the failed drug test was carried out by VADA - which is not affiliated to WADA like UKAD.
It may be the case that Benn isn't liable to the usual WADA/UKAD punishments which is a 4 year suspension - or 2 years if the athlete can prove they didn't deliberately ingest the drug.
If both of these problems are true then the BBBofC will need to tighten their rules.
Hearn's lawyers will probably argue that Benn hasn't actually failed a drug test yet because the B-sample hasn't confirmed the A-sample. Unfortunately, it seems a pretty strong case.
However the BBBofC lawyers could argue that boxing isn't like other sports, such as running or cycling, and that the very real possibility that Benn has used a drug to gain muscle mass will increase the danger to the opponent - so this is why they don't want to sanction the bout. It might work.
Hearn has shown his true colours with regard to drugs in boxing and it seems DAZN have the same attitude. This isn't unusual as everyone involved in running boxing in some way couldn't give a stuff about drugs in boxing. It's easy to tell this is the case as there are no proper drug testing protocols, except the year round VADA contracts paid for by only 4 fighters (Donaire, Joshua, Whyte & Katie Taylor), and then even if a fighter is caught by one of the lousy testing protocols that exist in boxing they only get a pathetic 6 month suspension. At least the BBBofC/UKAD issue 4 year suspensions which might actually make fighters think that using PEDs isn't worth the risk.
[Incidentally before anyone claims that this case is just like the Dillian Whyte case before the Rivas fight - it isn't - Whyte had enough evidence to prove his innocence without needing to open the B-sample. This is allowed by the WADA protocol]
https://twitter.com/Gilganjun1/status/1578291689126793216