The Conor Benn saga intensified on Tuesday with confirmation that the boxer has been provisionally suspended by UK Anti-Doping since 15 March.
This ruling has serious ramifications for any British boxing licence holder – including promoters, managers, trainers and other fighters – who had been planning to be involved in Benn’s next bout outside the UK. The latest twist in this long-running story, which was confirmed by Matt Christie, the widely respected editor of Boxing News, is another roadblock to Benn’s planned comeback abroad.
Last year Benn tested positive twice for clomifene, a substance which can boost testosterone levels by 50%, and he has yet to clear his name in public. Ukad adheres to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency code which states, in regard to anyone who facilitates competition for a provisionally suspended athlete: “Where an athlete support person or other person assists a person in violating the prohibition against participation during ineligibility or a provisional suspension, an anti-doping organization with authority over such athlete support person or other person shall impose sanctions for a violation.”
The British Boxing Board of Control follows Ukad regulations in all anti‑doping matters and complies with the Wada code. This means it would be expected to sanction any licence holder who organises, authorises or participates in any event featuring Benn as he is now provisionally suspended.
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Benn vehemently denies intentionally taking a prohibited substance. He also insists a 270-page report produced by his team provides scientific proof which clears him. But, so far, that document has been shared only with the World Boxing Council, the sanctioning body which ranks him in its list of top 10 welterweights.
The WBC said there was no conclusive evidence that the 26‑year‑old boxer had deliberately taken a banned drug, but disagreed with him, and the contents of the report, as to the reasons for the presence of clomifene in his system on two separate occasions.
It is understood that Ukad and the British board had made repeated requests to see the report. Should Benn wish to have his Ukad suspension lifted he would need to address the unresolved issues in the UK and have his case heard by the National Anti-Doping Panel.
Benn’s trainers and his promoters, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, could be subject to the threatened loss of their British licences should they press ahead with plans for his return to the ring in the Middle East or elsewhere. It also means fighters such as Chris Eubank Jr and the currently retired Kell Brook, who had been touted as possible opponents for Benn in Abu Dhabi on a suggested date of 3 June, could lose their British licence.
Ukad’s position is that, according to article 10.14.1 of its regulations: “While serving a period of ineligibility or provisional suspension, an athlete or other person may not participate in any capacity (or assist any athlete participating in any capacity) in a competition, event or other activity (other than authorised anti‑doping education or rehabilitation programmes) organised, convened, authorised or recognised by (a) the NGB [national governing body] or by any body that is a member of, or affiliated to, or licensed by the NGB; (b) any signatory; (c) any club or other body that is a member of, or affiliated to, or licensed by, a signatory or a signatory’s member organisation; (d) any professional league or any international- or national-level Event organisation; or (e) any elite or national-level sporting activity funded by a governmental agency.”
Benn relinquished his British boxing licence last October, after he confirmed he had returned a second positive test result, and so he is free to apply for a licence elsewhere. Attempts to gain a boxing licence in the US, the preferred choice of Benn and Hearn, have so far been unsuccessful. While boxing commissions in the Middle East are expected to be more lenient, the Ukad suspension cannot be ignored.
Benn’s legal adviser, Mike Morgan, and Hearn declined to comment when Boxing News approached them to confirm Ukad’s provisional suspension.
