Conor Benn plans to get his career back on track after losing a year due to positive drug test samples in two separate tests for the banned substance clomiphene.
“The Destroyer” has rigorously denied any wrongdoing from day one. Now, almost one year to the day from when testers say he popped dirty, Benn thinks he can resume boxing in earnest.
Releasing a statement in conjunction with his promoter Matchroom Boxing, Benn believes he can secure another fight as soon as possible.
“Today marks the end of a grueling ten-month process, during which the WBC had already decided that I was innocent of any wrongdoing,” said Benn citing a WBC ruling that stated, “no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene.”
And that a “highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection raised a reasonable explanation,” over his positive tests.
Conor Benn is free to fight
Benn continued: “After a hearing with the National Anti-Doping Panel and UKAD, I have now been vindicated for the second time.
“Hopefully, the public and various media members can now understand why I have maintained my innocence so strongly all the way through.
“The UKAD process has now formally ended. I remain free to fight. Naturally, I am pleased that I can now put this behind me once and for all.
“As you can imagine, the last ten months have weighed heavily on me. I am anxious that if this happened to me, it could potentially happen to any honest, dedicated, and clean athlete like me.
“I would like to thank my fans that have kept the faith when many have turned against me. As well as my team, Matchroom, my friends and family, sponsors, and also my legal team.
“Those of whom have shared a belief in me and a commitment to ensuring the correct result being obtained and justice being achieved.
“Only with the strength of all this support have I been able to continue during this challenging time.
“I now intend to put this matter behind me and look forward. Which begins with fighting as soon as possible to remind everyone who I am.”
Almost one year to the day
After spending fifteen months on the sidelines, Benn will be looking to hit the ground running after missing out on a fight with Chris Eubank Jr. on two occasions.
However, Benn still faces an uphill task of convincing many skeptics. Announcing that he’s free to fight almost one year to the day from his first positive test brings its own ammunition.
The views expressed in this article are the opinions of experienced boxing writer Phil Jay.
