Connor Benn's provisional doping suspension lifted

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BBC Sport

Conor Benn's provisional suspension has been lifted after a two-year battle with UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).

Benn, 28, is an unbeaten welterweight with a 23-0 record, but in 2022 he twice tested positive for a banned substance, women's fertility drug Clomifene, in voluntary drug tests.

His suspension has been withdrawn after Ukad said the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) was "not comfortably satisfied" that it and the Board had proved he had committed an anti-doping rule violation.

Benn says he has been "cleared of any wrongdoing" and has always been "an advocate for clean sport".

"This past 24 months has unquestionably been the toughest fight of my life," Benn wrote in a statement published on X.

"[It has been} a rollercoaster period within which the WBC had already decided that I was innocent and the NADP decided in the first instance that there was no case to answer and I was free to fight."

Ukad say the "charge against him has been consequently dismissed" however, they are reviewing the decision "in accordance with appeal rights".

They have 21 days to lodge that appeal.

Ukad added it is "unable to publicly disclose" the full decision of the NADP at this time without Benn's consent.

A key issue at the heart of Benn's case was the drug tests were conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) and paid for by Benn's promoters Matchroom Boxing, and not by Ukad.

Benn is now free to resume his fighting career in the UK and plans to reschedule a bout with Chris Eubank Jr.

Both fighters' teams are pushing for the contest and the preference is for the fight to take place in the UK, rather than in Saudi Arabia.

Eubank and Benn clashed in the Kingdom last month during the week leading up to Artur Beterbiev's victory over Dmitry Bivol. Benn then joined his rival in the ring after Eubank stopped Kamil Szeremeta.

Eddie Hearn, who promotes Benn, said he expects the fight to happen early in 2025.

"It's the easiest fight in the world to promote," he said.

"The first time we sold out the highest ever gate at the O2 for boxing. It was sold so quickly I can't even tell you. Now, with everything, its three or four times bigger," he said.

"I think you'll see it in February or March 2025. It can land in Riyadh but AJ-Dubois (Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois) was epic for British boxing and this will be too.

"It's always nice to have at least one stadium fight a year. To do that in the first quarter would be encouraging for what might follow."

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UKAD can still appeal within 21 days. No idea what's going on or went on, if anything.

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Conor Benn cleared to fight as Ukad makes final decision over drug-test saga

By Alex Pattle, The Independent

Conor Benn has finally been cleared to fight in Britain, after UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) decided not to appeal the National Anti-Doping Panel’s move to lift his provisional suspension.

Benn has not fought in Britain since April 2022, having failed two drug tests later that year, in an episode that saw his British licence revoked and a suspension handed down.

Earlier this month, the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) lifted Benn’s suspension, though Ukad retained a right to appeal that decision. Furthermore, the British Boxing Board of Control said: “We are considering our position.”

But on Thursday, Ukad said it would not lodge an appeal, meaning Benn is seemingly free to fight on home soil at last.

The World Anti-Doping Agency could yet appeal the NADP’s decision, but barring such a move, Benn may fight in Britain for the first time since his win over Chris van Heerden – two-and-a-half years ago.

Benn has fought twice since then, but in the US on both occasions. The unbeaten welterweight beat Rodolfo Orozco last September and Peter Dobson in February, winning both fights via decision.

His suspension, after testing positive for the banned substance clomifene, derailed a bout with Chris Eubank Jr on late notice in October 2022.

Talks over that fight – which is tied to Eubank Sr’s famous rivalry with Conor’s father Nigel, in the 1990s – have resumed in recent months. However, Benn called out WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on social media on Wednesday.