Despite the adverse findings in Benn’s drug test, the fight could still go on as promoters battle C’s BBB
THE British Boxing Board Control (BBB of C) banned Saturday’s contest between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn from taking place after Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene. Supporters of the fight, Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing, are protesting that ruling and are still hoping to finish the bout at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.
Trace elements of this substance were discovered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) after an examination. Boxing News understanding takes place in September. Following the instructions of both camps, VADA was used to carry out additional checks against the UK Anti-Doping Authority (UKAD), the official anti-doping body recognized by the British Boxing Control Board. All UKAD tests were negative, including those performed after the adverse finding of VADA.
To date, only VADA sample A findings have been published. Model B has yet to be tested so any rule violations remain unconfirmed. It is especially rare that form B is different from form A because it is simply the same pattern divided into two parts.
Clomifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator most commonly used in fertility treatments for women. According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), this substance can alter testosterone levels in both male and female athletes and is also used as a face mask. It is on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and it also appears on the UKAD All-Time Prohibited List (on and off the competition list).
According to WADA, “Clomifene has also appeared as an undeclared ingredient in black market products sold on the internet for performance-enhancing uses.”
Boxing News understand that the adverse trial results were shared by VADA with stakeholders on September 23. The Daily Mail, with permission from Riath Al-Samarrai, breaking the story on Wednesday morning (October 5). Board of Directors, Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing) and Kalle Sauerland (Wasserman Boxing) were spoken to about the Mail’s findings on Tuesday.
At 2pm on Wednesday, C’s BBB released the following statement: “On the evening of 4 October, the Board of British Boxing Controls resolved that the showdown between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on October 8 was banned because it did not benefit boxing. That was announced to the participating boxers and promoters on the morning of October 5.”
Before that statement was made, but after C’s BBB informed them that the match was banned, both Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing indicated that the fight would continue.
At 12:45 p.m., Sauerland told TalkSport it was the boxers’ desire that the fight go on after the pair had engaged in a “personal discussion”. When pressed, Sauerland confirmed that “the fight is still going on.”
While Sauerland was on air, Matchroom released a statement.
“We are told that a random anti-doping test of Conor Benn conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association returned an adverse analysis of the trace amount of an fertility drug,” the statement said. father wrote. “Form B has yet to be tested, which means no rule violations have been confirmed. Indeed, Mr. Benn has not been charged with any rule violations, he has not been suspended and he remains free to fight.”
Reacting to the Board’s statement, while training publicly for Saturday’s event, Eddie Hearn said: “The UKAD test, is the test used by the British Boxing Control Board and adjusted by all clear and negative, there was an adverse finding in a previous VADA test. There hasn’t been an official doping violation.
“There is a process to go through. Conor Benn was not suspended, he couldn’t in the end because he passed all the tests from UKAD, but obviously the Boxing Control Board will have a view on that. We will deal with lawyers about it. Both camps were informed, prior to the report of the situation, and both camps prepared to wage war. But ultimately there must be conversations with the lawyers, the teams and the British Boxing Control Board.”
Why VADA was used to perform the tests, if the final results were omitted, was not discussed.
After the practice, Benn said: “I didn’t commit any offence. I was not suspended. So, as far as I know, the war is still going on. I talked to Chris [Eubank Jr] personally and we both want the fight to continue. We’ve taken both medical and legal advice and, like I said, we want the fight to happen for the fans. “
Eubank Jr denied there was a phone call when he was interviewed. However, it is clear that he desperately wants the fight to continue. “Sorry, but the promoters, the Board, they will deal with it. I’m ready, I’m clean, I’m 60%… Of course there are concerns [about the failed test] But, again, I’m ready. I’ve lost weight and am ready to go. Here’s all that’s going on. All I had to do was make sure I was ready to go. “
Prior to today’s developments, Chris Eubank Sr has repeatedly stated that he does not want the fight to go due to the absorbed weight (157lbs), and the rehydration clause stipulates that no fighter can weigh more than 10lbs compared to the weight. caught at another weigh-in, according to schedule. takes place at 11 a.m. on the day of the contest.
When he heard about Benn’s test, Senior said to Boxing News: “What we can’t do and what the Boxing Control Board can’t do is allow something to happen that makes the sport go bad.”
