Editor’s Letter: Conor Benn, the British Boxing Board of Control, and a dark saga with not a glimmer of light

CONOR BENN, to his credit score, has opted not to remain quiet in the face of damning proof towards him. He admits that an unlawful substance – clomiphene, an estrogen blocker – was current in his system on July 25 and once more on September 1. He is claiming contamination is the trigger. What was contaminated – samples, dietary supplements or meals – he’ll not but disclose.

What we all know to date is the following:

On January 19, it was introduced that Benn had been faraway from the WBC rankings after failing to enrol with the sanctioning physique’s Clean Boxing Programme with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). On January 24, Benn said his staff had been instructed to start the enrolment course of. The day earlier than, on TalkSport, Benn referred to as the scenario a ‘shambles’ and insisted he would return to the WBC rankings – the place he was beforehand rated fifth at welterweight – the following month.

While nonetheless formally unranked by the WBC, Benn stopped Chris van Heerden in 4 rounds on April 16 and was subsequently reinstated at No.5 in May. Shortly thereafter, talks about a potential home showdown with Chris Eubank Jnr are understood to have commenced.

An official announcement was anticipated on July 19 however on account of ongoing discussions about the catchweight and rehydration clause, it was postponed. A press convention was then tentatively set for July 28. Three days beforehand, as half of the WBC Clean Boxing Programme, Benn was examined by VADA. The press convention did not happen – although there isn’t a suggestion this was as a result of of the random take a look at.

On an unspecified date in August, Benn claims he began to work with Dr Usman Sajjad, a man recognized to have experience in testosterone therapies, so he may guarantee any dietary supplements taken have been authorized.

On August 9, the contest between Eubank Jnr and Benn was confirmed for October 3 at a catchweight of 157lbs. Terms of the rehydration clause have been not disclosed – it was, we have been informed, a non-public association between the boxers. Three days later, a press convention occurred to advertise the occasion.

On an unspecified date at the finish of August, Benn and his staff have been informed that clomiphene had been found in the random take a look at he had undertaken on July 25. The bout with Eubank had not been confirmed at the time of testing so Team Eubank have been not knowledgeable of the outcomes. The Board have been, nonetheless.

When speaking to journalists Matt Lawton and Wally Downes on October 27, Benn promised that the traces have been so low “there was no performance benefit.” He thought it was “a faulty test.” He instructed his staff to deal with it. He did not ask for the B-sample to be examined.  

On September 1, Benn was examined once more by VADA. On September 23, the outcomes of that take a look at – disclosed to Team Benn, Team Eubank and the BBBofC – once more proved that clomiphene was in Benn’s system. On September 29, Benn invited members of the media to his gymnasium to advertise the battle with Eubank. The following morning, one week after each had been knowledgeable of the newest optimistic take a look at, the rivals appeared collectively on Good Morning Britain.

On the night of October 4, the BBBofC dominated that they might ‘prohibit’ the battle. The related events have been knowledgeable the following morning earlier than the Daily Mail broke the information about the failed take a look at. That afternoon, after a twin assertion from promoters Wasserman and Matchroom indicated the battle would go forward in three days regardless, the open exercises have been staged. The fighters needed to battle, we have been informed. Another non-public association in a sport that merely ought to not permit the boxers to make their very own guidelines. No request for the B-sample to be examined this time, both.

On the afternoon of October 6, after authorized motion towards the Board was thought-about, the promoters introduced that the battle was cancelled.

On October 21, Benn was on account of seem at a BBBofC listening to concerning an allegation of misconduct. He did not attend and relinquished his licence. The listening to, by which Benn was legally represented, dominated that the cost of misconduct was upheld. That cost associated to allegations that data from the first take a look at had been withheld. Benn argued that it was a VADA take a look at, which falls underneath the jurisdiction of the WBC, and not the Board.  

In the meantime, promoters Eddie Hearn and Kalle Sauerland have insisted they might not pull the occasion for contractual causes. Yet it’s understood that the Board discovered themselves in a authorized battle when trying to uncover the proof required to. An influence battle between a governing physique and these they’re in place to control.

We don’t know or why the substance discovered its method into Benn’s system in two separate checks that have been 38 days aside. The fighter claims his innocence will probably be confirmed by a staff of “the best scientists” he has paid to analyze. How the contamination is defined, significantly contemplating the size of time between the two checks, is the crux of Benn’s case.