.jpg)
The promoter of Chris Eubank Jr. hopes that the commission looking into Conor Benn’s positive drug test isn’t dragging their feet.
Kalle Sauerland, the head of Wasserman, which backs the longtime middleweight contender Benn, recently expressed some frustration with the procedural undertakings by the British Boxing Board of Control, the regulatory body that oversees boxing in the country, and UK Anti-Doping, in regards to last week’s bombshell revelation that Benn tested positive for a banned substance. The discovery, made public via an article by the Daily Mail, led to the cancellation of their 157-pound catchweight fight, billed as a generational grudge match because their fathers, Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, were responsible for British boxing’s most heated rivalry in the early 1990s.
The performance enhancing drug in question was clomifede, a fertility drug that boosts testosterone levels when used by men. The testing agency VADA was responsible for producing the results.
Several reports suggested that an investigation was underway, but nothing official had been announced by either the BBBoC or UKAD.
That changed on Friday. BBBoC, which refused to authorize the bout after the Daily Mail article, released a statement confirming that, in conjunction with UKAD, they had “launched an investigation.”
Sauerland, however, noted the language in the release seemed to imply that the investigation had only just commenced, a notion that, if true, does not sit well with the veteran promoter.
“I saw the statement,” Sauerland told iFL TV. “Doesn’t move us forward does it? I don’t understand the point of putting it out today. I would hope that the investigation was launched a long time ago. I’m waiting for the result of the investigation — not the announcement of the launch of the investigation. Not particularly helpful on my end because we’re waiting.”
Initially after the positive drug test was disclosed, Eddie Hearn, Benn’s promoter, and Sauerland, appeared intent on moving forward with the fight, with several outlets reporting that they were looking to challenge the BBBoC with a court injunction. Hearn has since denied this in various interviews.
Regardless of whether or not Eubank-Benn will ever materialize, Sauerland wants a resolution so that his charge can continue with his career. Benn has put up posts on his social media recently suggesting he is innocent and that he will be vindicated once the investigation has run its course.
“Everyday is a day off Junior’s career,” Sauerland said. “He’s 33. He’s in the prime. Once again, go back to what I said, the handling of the matters now needs to speed up dramatically because a lot of people are affected by it. At the same time it doesn’t stop us from looking at future plans.”