By Charles Brun: Conor Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) has tested positive for the banned drug clomifene in the lead-up to his fight this Saturday night against middleweight Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing is attempting to have the fight go ahead. However, the British Boxing Board of Control is prohibiting the fight from going ahead.
Eubank Jr (32-2, 23 KOs) still wants the contest to take place with the drug-positive Benn, but it may be out of his hands, unfortunately. Obviously, it’s not looking good with the BBBoC prohibiting the Eubank Jr. vs. Benn from taking place.
Hearn is attempting to get a court injunction to allow the fight to take place, but it’s still too early to know if he’ll be successful.
Benn’s positive test came from last August as part of a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Hearn is trying to get a court injunction to have the Eubank Jr-Benn fight go ahead this Saturday night. Whether Hearn will be successful or not remains to be seen due to Conor’s positive test for clomifene.
“There’s currently no reason in terms of violation or suspension that the fight should not take place… You’re not going to suspend Conor Benn, so at some point, the fight is going to take place,” said Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing.
“I’ve not committed any violations; I’ve not been suspended, so as far as I’m concerned, the fight’s still going ahead. I’ve spoken to Chris Eubank Jr personally, and we both want to go ahead,” said Conor Benn to Matchroom Boxing.
“There was an adverse finding of a trace substance in one of Conor Benn’s in Conor Benn’s VADA test,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV. “Both guys for this fight signed up to various different agencies for testing.
“There’s been multiple tests by each agency. Like I said, there was an adverse finding for the VADA test. The British Boxing Board of Control statement, which was just to say at the moment that we do not prohibit this bout.
“Conor Benn is not suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control. There’s been no violation at the moment. He’s cleared to fight by the British Boxing Board of Control. What their statement is actually saying is we’re not sanctioning this fight.
“There’s ongoing conversations with the lawyers and the British Boxing Board of Control. Obviously, we want everyone to be comfortable.”
