By Barry Holbrook: In a bombshell, Conor Benn reportedly tested positive twice in VADA tests on July 25th and September 1st for the banned drug clomifene.
With the positive drug tests coming two months apart, it puts Benn in a difficult situation in trying to prove it was caused by contamination, particularly with it being the same drug.
Despite the positive tests, the 26-year-old popular welterweight contender Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) insists he’s innocent and believes it could be contamination. If Benn cannot prove his innocence, it’s unclear what kind of suspension or ban he would be given.
One positive test would for a banned drug be bad enough, but two could make things difficult for Benn to return to the ring anytime soon unless both tests were grouped as one.
Benn isn’t sure whether someone may have put something in his food or drink, resulting in the positive tests. Whatever the situation, he says there wasn’t enough of the banned drug in his system to benefit him.
In an interview with The Sun, Benn’s first positive VADA test came on July 25th, and his team believed it was an “error.” However, two months later, Benn tested positive for a second time on September 1st, which caused even more worry.
Last week, Benn forfeited his boxing license, which has caused many boxing fans to view that move with suspicion. They wonder why Benn would give up his boxing license if he were innocent.
“I could fight in another county in February, but I don’t want to do that because it looks like I am running away,” said Conor Benn to TheSun.
If Benn were to fight in another country without a boxing license from the UK, it would look bad on his part, and it’s unclear whether that would impact his situation when he attempted to get his license back to fight in his own country.
Benn can make a lot of money fighting in stadiums in England, and it’s questionable whether he’ll be able to bring in huge audiences fighting outside of the UK.
Also, would Benn’s fights still be shown on DAZN? If so, you’ve got to imagine the backlash they would receive from boxing fans for continuing to show Benn’s fights after two positive drug tests.
“It baffles me that people think I have cheated after seeing me on TV for so long…Am I a serial liar?
“I don’t know if this is a battle I can win, so then I think about just playing the villain.
“Trace amounts were found. The tiniest of traces. The only thing I can think of is contamination,
“The traces were so low there was no benefit. The science will prove that,” said Benn.