British Board Confirm Conor Benn is Being Investigated Over Failed Test

The British Boxing Board of Control have formally launched an inquiry in association with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) into Conor Benn’s positive drugs test. 

It has been widely reported that Benn produced a positive test for clomiphene, a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list, which is normally used to treat infertility in women.  

The failed test from early September was reported by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on September 23, although details of the failed test were not revealed until the story was broken by the Daily Mail last Wednesday, three days before Benn’s scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr. 

The BBBoC then announced that they would prohibit the fight to go ahead. After suggestions that co-promoters Matchroom and Wasserman Boxing would seek an injunction against the BBBoC, something Eddie Hearn, the head of Matchroom, has since denied happened, the fight was called off last Thursday. 

Hearn threw doubt over whether the BBBoC and UKAD – which controls doping control in the UK and has the power to ban athletes – recognized a VADA test, but the announcement by the BBBoC on Friday morning seems to dispel that view. 

The BBBoC statement said: “Following the British Boxing Board of Control Limited’s decision on 4th October 2022 to prohibit the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn that was scheduled to take place on 8th October 2022, the Board is aware that it has been widely reported in the press that an ‘A’ sample provided by Mr Benn to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association tested positive for a prohibited substance.  

“UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has launched an investigation in relation to Mr Benn and the Board is in communication with UKAD in relation to that investigation. The Board will release further details in relation to this matter, as and when appropriate.” 

Initially it was suggested that the co-promoters would try to quickly reschedule the fight abroad, with Hearn pressing the point that Benn was not suspended and that the fight was postponed, rather than cancelled, while at the same time offering refunds for ticket-holders. 

That seems unlikely now, with the emphasis now on Benn looking to clear his name before continuing with his career. 

There have since been reports that Benn may have failed a second doping test for the same substance. 

Should Benn, 26, be found to have committed a doping offence, he could face a four-year ban.

Ron Lewis is a senior writer for BoxingScene. He was Boxing Correspondent for The Times, where he worked from 2001-2019 – covering four Olympic Games and numerous world title fights across the globe. He has written about boxing for a wide variety of publications worldwide since the 1980s.