Conor Benn has accused the British Boxing Board of Control of following an “unfair and biased procedure” in the response to his failed drugs test.
The 26-year-old was due to face a British Boxing Board of Control hearing last week, after it was confirmed earlier this month that the governing body was investigating him.
Trace amounts of the fertility drug clomiphene, which elevates testosterone levels in men, had shown up in a test taken by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) ahead of his scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr, which was called off two days before the bout was due to take place.
Benn relinquished his British boxing license ahead of that hearing and his team posted a statement on his social media accounts on Wednesday evening addressing the situation.
It read: “Conor’s focus at this time is solely on clearing his name.
“The Board, however, has made it extremely difficult for Conor to focus on doing that by its conduct of an unfair and biased procedure.
“In such circumstances, Conor decided not to renew his licence (which had lapsed). Conor told the Board that if it did not accept that his licence had lapsed, then he renounces it.
“He strongly refutes the allegation of misconduct (which for the avoidance of doubt is *not* in relation to the VADA issue) and firmly believes that an independent tribunal will reach a wholly different conclusion.
“At the appropriate time Conor will speak out on this and on the doping allegation, to the extent that he can whilst legal proceedings are ongoing. In the meantime he reiterates, in no uncertain terms, that he is a clean athlete.”
Before that statement was released, it was announced that “allegations of misconduct” had been upheld by the governing body.
“On the morning of the hearing, Mr Benn voluntarily relinquished his licence with the BBBofC,” a BBBofC statement read.
“In accordance with its rules and regulations, the board determined the allegations following the hearing at which Mr Benn was legally represented.
“The allegations of misconduct against Mr Benn were upheld.”
