The World Boxing Council Board of Governors has released findings from the Conor Benn investigation into clomifene use.
Find the 665-word statement below.
Conor Benn completed his WBC Clean Boxing Program enrollment in February of 2022. Registration in the WBC CBP is mandatory for all fighters rated in the top 15 WBC Ratings.
Accordingly, he was enrolled in the WBC CBP’s out-of-competition anti-doping testing in July of 2022, when the collection of the samples to which the WBC Ruling is being announced occurred.
On August 23, 2022, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (“VADA”) notified Mr. Benn and the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) that the urine “A Sample” collected from him on July 25, 2022, in connection with his participation in the WBC/VADA anti-doping testing program yielded an adverse analytical finding for Clomiphene and its hydroxy metabolites MI and M2.
Clomiphene and its metabolites are banned substances at all times under the WBC CBP.
Clomiphene is a metabolic modulator that promotes testosterone production and boosts testosterone levels while burning fat.
On August 30, 2022, the WBC notified Mr. Benn of the Adverse Finding. They requested the information and materials necessary to investigate the circumstances thereof. The WBC did not receive a substantive response until December 2022.
Conor Benn denial
Mr. Benn always denied intentional or knowingly ingestion of any banned substances. His defense against the Adverse Finding centered on allegations of potential laboratory analysis failures and irregularities in connection with the analysis of his samples and the results of the samples’ testing.
The WBC consulted several experts in anti-doping laboratory analysis, including an expert consultant with over 30 years of experience in WADA and IOC-accredited laboratory settings.
The WBC concluded that no fault was attributable to the laboratory that analyzed Mr. Benn’s samples.
Further, the WBC reaffirms the unquestionable integrity of VADA. Also, the sample collection agencies and laboratories which services VADA uses in connection with the WBC CBP.
It was not until early January of 2023 that the WBC Results Management Unit could undertake the complete, substantive analysis of Mr. Benn’s arguments and defenses.
On January 26, 2023, WBC Results Management Unit members held an inquiry session with Mr. Benn and members of his legal team.
Conor Benn’s Diet
In early February of 2023, Mr. Benn’s team, for the first time, provided a detailed breakdown of Mr. Benn’s diet and supplement consumption that could have directly affected the Adverse Finding.
The WBC availed itself of the services of an expert nutritionist. The WBC experts provided information about the characteristics of the substance at issue in this case.
They also looked at examples of similar adverse findings in several sports under a diverse number of anti-doping programs.
The WBC Board of Governor’s ruling was based on the following:
(1) the facts as known to the WBC at the time of the ruling.
(2) any extenuating circumstances applicable to the specific case at hand.
(3) WBC rulings in precedential anti-doping violation cases.
(4) the unbiased, common-sensical, and just analysis and recommendations of the WBC Results Management Unit.
(5) credible and reliable health-related and scientific literature.
The WBC found that:
(1) there was no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene.
(2) there were no failures in the procedures related to sample collection, sample analysis, or violations of Mr. Benn’s B Sample rights that would justify questioning or invalidating the Adverse Finding.
(3) Mr. Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection. This raised a reasonable explanation for the Adverse Finding.
World Boxing Council ruling
The WBC Nutrition Committee will work with Mr. Benn’s team to design a nutrition program to avoid the risk of a future adverse finding caused by nutritional factors.
Mr. Benn shall be subjected to regular anti-doping testing to monitor the effect of the WBC-ordered nutritional program.
The WBC shall include Mr. Benn in its ratings during the period immediately following the issuance of its ruling.
Mr. Benn’s position in the WBC Ratings shall be based solely on his merit. The customary factors the WBC Ratings Committee applies to rate boxers.
The WBC will establish a line of communication with WADA regarding the WBC’s concern about Clomiphene as a food contaminant.
Also, the potential for false positives caused by ingestion of contaminated food.
