Conor Benn handed provisional UKAD suspension over two failed tests
- Barend Prins
- 18 April 2023
Conor Benn has been handed a provisional suspension over his failure to comply with an investigation into two drug tests last year.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has handed Conor Benn a provisional suspension over his failure to comply with an investigation into the two drug tests he failed in 2022.
Benn hasn't been in the ring since 16 April last year but has been rumoured to return in June, with Chris Eubank Jr and Manny Pacquiao pencilled in to be potential opponents.
However, any planned fights are now in jeopardy since his suspension came into effect on 15 March, according to reports.
The 26-year-old was licensed by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) at the time of the initial failed tests for the banned substance clomiphene, which were conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
One of the tests was part of the WBC's 'Clean Boxing Programme' which compels fighters to comply with random drug testing.
After the WBC conducted an investigation of their own, Benn was reinstated into the welterweight rankings two months ago after they ruled a 'highly elevated consumption of eggs provided a reasonable explanation' for the clomiphene in his blood.
Benn, though, argued that fundamental flaws existed in the WBA's reasoning in a 270-page document submitted to the organisational body in December.
He was then provisionally banned last month since the same dossier was not submitted to the BBBoC or UKAD.
Meanwhile, the son of former two-division world boxing champion Nigel Benn took to his Twitter account to voice his dismay with the news.
"I can't comment on anything to do with UKAD other than to say that I am in touch with them. Someone at the BBBoC or UKAD obviously wanted to create a headline unlike the Khan case where it was kept quiet for 14 months but this is nothing new. I remain free to fight outside the UK," he said.
"This isn't even about my innocence anymore, it's all politics. You can't keep a good man down."
