LONDON:
Conor Benn has been cleared of doping after the World Boxing Council ruled that “increased egg consumption” was a “reasonable explanation” for his good search.
A ‘hateful’ fight against British rival Chris Eubank Jr which was scheduled for October last year was canceled after the draw the birth control drug, clomiphene – which is known to increase testosterone levels in men – was found in Benn’s urine.
Benn, 26, has denied knowingly or knowingly taking any drugs, and in December broke his silence in a lengthy post on of Instagram, saying: “The truth is coming soon.”
On Wednesday, the WBC, after consulting with a nutritionist, announced that the London fighter would be reinstated and stated that there was no “certain evidence that Benn participated in the manipulation Clomiphene on purpose.”
He added: “Mr Benn’s record and the high consumption of eggs at the appropriate times in the collection of samples, showed a reasonable explanation for the Negative Analysis.
“The WBC should include Mr. Benn in its trials in the period following the issuance of its decision.”
The world governing body said it would meet with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) because of concerns about Clomiphene as a food contaminant and “the possibility of errors caused by eating bad food”.
Despite the WBC’s decision, Benn remains under investigation by UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBFofC).
Until their investigation is completed, Benn will not be licensed to fight in the UK, but can fight in another country under another jurisdiction.
And the BBBofC stressed on Wednesday that its concerns remained.
“For clarification, while the BBBoC wants to make it clear that it respects the WBC, the WBC is a sanctioning body and not a governing body,” a statement said.
The British boxing authorities said that as they accepted the UK Anti-Doping code, “the decision of the WBC does not affect the continued implementation of the rules of the BBBoC (and the rules of the UKAD)” .
The fight was intended to continue the Benn-Eubank feud in which the rival fathers – Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr – fought two grueling contests in the early 1990s.
The 157-pound (71.2 kg) catchweight was agreed to continue the family feud in a three-fight series, meaning Benn would have to move up the divisions. two weights and Eubank lost three pounds.
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