WBC Clear Conor Benn To Return To rankings After Failed Drug Tests

The WBC has said that Conor Benn will be reinstated to their rankings after ruling that the British fighter did not ‘engage in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene’.

On the week of his scheduled showdown with Chris Eubank Jr, Benn was reported to have failed a VADA drugs test in the weeks before the highly-anticipated bout in London.

The British Boxing Board of Control eventually ruled that the fight could not take place, leading to its cancellation and for Benn to try to clear his name.

Over four months later, Benn is yet to have the case assessed by the BBBofC, a consequence of not reapplying for his licence and vowing not to fight under that governing body in the future.

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However, it was announced on Wednesday that Benn will now return to the WBC rankings after an investigation ruled out that the 26-year-old did not deliberately taken the banned substance, which can increase testosterone levels.

© Reuters

When speaking to the media shortly after the developments were made public, Benn claimed that the consumption of eggs had led to the failed test.

In a lengthy statement, the WBC says that ‘Mr. Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection raised a reasonable explanation for the Adverse Finding’.

The WBC also ruled that ‘there was no conclusive evidence that Mr Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene’.

Therefore, Benn will regain his place in the rankings, presumably at welterweight where he has fought his entire career and not at middleweight where he had been scheduled to face Eubank Jr.

Despite this development, Benn is still not permitted to fight in a British ring under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC until they and VADA have completed their own investigation.