By Jake Tiernan: Conor Benn says he was suicidal after the public branded him a drug cheat following his positive tests for a banned substance.
The unbeaten welterweight contender from Britain told Piers Morgan during his interview that he didn’t think he was going to see another day, as he was in a bad place. What bothers Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) the most is he’s put in this position by someone else’s “incompetence.”
It’s believed that Benn thinks that mistakes were made during the testing of his samples, which resulted in him testing positive for clomifene.
Boxing fans are suspicious of Benn and disbelieving in his claims of innocence because he tested positive twice in tests that were conducted months apart. The public might buy a contamination mistake in one test, but not two from months apart.
Benn could return to the ring soon, but not in the UK. He says he doesn’t have to have a license to fight in the UK for him to continue his career. When Benn does fight, it could be overseas in Saudi Arabia or another foreign country. Manny Pacquiao is one of the potential names that Benn could fight.
Conor Benn was suicidal
Piers Morgan: “To be branded a cheat in the court of public opinion. What has that done you?”
Conor Benn: “Yeah, it’s hurt me.”
Piers: “How badly?”
Conor: “I didn’t think I was going to make it through this period. I didn’t think I was going to make it through. It was a shame for something I ain’t even done.
“It’s hard because I felt I was on death row for something I ain’t even done. If I’d something wrong, I’m human. I raise my hands to it. I made a mistake, whatever it is in my personal life. Whatever it is, I raise my hand. Never this.
“I felt like seven years of hard work, leaving my family, and the image that I had maintained was ruined by somebody else’s incompetence. Yeah, it’s been hard.”
Piers: “You said you didn’t think you were going to make it. What do you mean?”
Conor: “I didn’t think I was taking it day by day. I didn’t think I was going to see another day.”
Piers: “You were feeling suicidal?”
Conor: “Yeah, I’d say so, yeah. It upsets me now because I don’t know how I got so bad. I got in a really bad way, bad. You’ve got to remember that if you think I’m innocent or you don’t think I’m innocent, I am innocent.”
“My dad tore up his British boxing license on TV. I don’t have to be licensed by the board. I don’t plan on fighting in Britain any time soon.”