Conor Benn has apparently loosened his stance against the United Kingdom Anti-Doping.
The British welterweight’s ongoing drug scandal reached a new chapter this week when it was reported by Boxing News that UKAD had provisionally suspended Benn since March 15.
Benn, whose two positive drugs tests for the banned performance-enhancing drug clomifene last year roiled the boxing world, has been working hard to make a comeback (perhaps as soon as June 3 in Abu Dhabi) but the news of his suspension figures to complicate those efforts.
In a follow-up, the Daily Mail reported that Benn’s legal team had finally handed over the same lengthy dossier that he used to exonerate himself with the World Boxing Council to UKAD—a complete flip from his previous position in which he refused to share the document with the anti-doping body or the British Boxing Board of Control.
Benn, who relinquished his license with the BBBofC last year, had asserted in a widely-circulated interview with talk show host Piers Morgan that he did not want to share his dossier with the BBBofC out of “pride.”
The provisional suspension means that anybody—from trainers to the promoters—implicated in an event with Benn could face sanctions. That includes his promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, and his potential opponent, such as British middleweight Chris Eubank Jr., whose name has been floated as a top option.
Benn could face a multi-year ban depending on UKAD’s probe.
Benn, who has continually denied that he has ever had clomifene in his body, confirmed in a tweet that he is “in touch” with UKAD but did not elaborate on details. The 26-year-old also said there were political motives behind the investigation into his two failed drug tests. Recently, UKAD revealed that retired welterweight Amir Khan had tested positive for a banned substance in a test that was administered shortly after his knockout loss to Kell Brook last year.
Benn stressed that he is “free” to fight outside Britain, including the United States. However, several notable US commissions—California, Texas, and Nevada—have already stated that they do not intend to allow Benn to fight in their jurisdiction until his case with the Board is resolved.
“I can’t comment on anything to do with UKAD other than to say that I am in touch with them,” Benn wrote in a tweet.
“Someone at the BBBoC or UKAD obviously wanted to create a headline unlike the Khan case where it was kept quiet for 14 months but this is nothing new. I remain free to fight outside the UK.”
“This isn’t even about my innocence anymore, it’s all politics,” Benn continued. “You can’t keep a good man down.”