Conor Benn has been removed from the WBC world rankings following his two failed drug tests that cancelled his fight with Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn, 26, held the number five spot in the organisation's welterweight rankings but has now lost his place pending the investigation of his failed tests for the banned substance clomifene. The British Boxing Board of Control refused to sanction his clash with Eubank Jr, which was set for October 8, and Benn proceeded to relinquish his boxing licence.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has now confirmed that Benn has been removed from their rankings, despite Matchroom Boxing requesting that he should be reinstated given he is yet to be officially suspended by any organisation. Sulaiman insisted the WBC are just following protocol and they have been in contact with Benn's team regarding the matter.
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“We have the clean boxing programme protocol," Sulaiman told ES News. "We have [been] in communication with Conor Benn and his legal team, basically this is an issue that is going to be addressed. We have been in communication through the full investigation on the matter and tried to clean his name with this situation, but we have to do the [protocol].”
Benn returned a positive test for clomifene two months before his second failed test came to light, but he and his team passed it off as a faulty result. The Brit has maintained his innocence and believes that clomifene entered into his system by way of contamination, telling The Sun : "I passed all my UKAD tests, which people aren’t talking about. I’ve passed all my tests in and out of camp. I’ve been a professional for seven years and never failed a test.
"I signed up to VADA in February, so it doesn’t make any sense. Why would I take something then? Trace amounts were found. The tiniest of traces. The only thing I can think of is contamination. I’ve not taken anything. I never have done, never would. It’s not what I stand for, it’s not what my team stands for. Why would I take the biggest fight of my life, sign up to VADA — voluntary anti-doping — and then take this substance? If you Google this substance, it stays in your system for months. Do I look like an idiot?"
