The World Boxing Council has codified Conor Benn’s lurch back into the limelight.
After the WBC concluded its investigation last month into the embattled welterweight’s two positive drug tests for a banned performance-enhancing substance—in which it suggested that Benn had unknowingly ingested a performance-enhancing substance due to an “elevated consumption of eggs”—the organization stated that it would reinstate the controversial fighter into its welterweight rankings.
The sanctioning body has now made good on that promise.
In its updated rankings published on Wednesday, the WBC formally pinned the British puncher at No. 7, in between Abel Ramos at No. 6 and Egidijus Kavaliauskas at No. 8. The champion of the organization’s weight class is Errol Spence Jr., while its No.1 contender is Keith Thurman.
Benn acknowledged the news on his Instagram, writing, “Coming for that #1 spot.”
Benn continues to be absent from the rankings of the other major sanctioning bodies, including the WBO, WBA, and IBF. Benn was previously ranked in the top-five of each organization.
Benn was previously ranked No. 5 with the WBC. But after it was revealed last year that Benn had not only failed one drug test, but another, for the same substance (clomiphene), the WBC decided to drop him from its rankings. The WBC justified its ruling on the grounds that Benn’s positive tests were in violation of statutes in its Clean Boxing Program, which is a testing protocol that the WBC requires for all fighters ranked within the Top 15 across all weight classes. The testing is administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, a highly respected third-party testing agency that also conducted the two tests that showed the presence of clomiphene in Benn’s body.
Benn recently contended that clomiphene was never in his body and has instead blamed laboratory procedures.
Clomiphene is used by women to treat infertility, but when it is used by men, it is known to boost testosterone levels. It is on the prohibited list by the World Anti-Doping Agency
Although Benn is currently still being investigated by the British Boxing Board of Control and United Kingdom Anti-Doping, he has been making the media rounds as of late, maintaining his innocence and clamoring for a big fight. Benn has stated he is not concerned about the prospect of not fighting in his homeland for the foreseeable future.
BoxingScene.com understands Benn will return to the ring on June 3 in Abu Dhabi in a card promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. Eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao has been floated as a potential opponent.