‘I’m as Frustrated as Anybody Else’: BBBofC Official Shares Latest Update on Conor Benn’s Failed Doping Test Investigation

Conor Benn, son of former two-division world champion Nigel Gregory Benn, may not boast a high knock-out win rate; it stands at 67%. However, ‘The Destroyer,’ certainly retains a spotless record. He may have continued with the trend when a fight against Chris Eubank Jr. turned up. But the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), on October 5 last year, forbade their match scheduled on October 8 since Benn failed the drug test, apparently for the second time.

The first test’s results, taken on July 25 last year, were released by August. By September 23, the results of the second test turned up. Conor Benn acknowledged that food or beverage taint is to be blame for his positive tests.

The BBBofC shared the information of Benn renouncing his boxing license with them. It happened before the BBBofC’s scheduled hearing on the alleged misbehavior against him. Anyhow, during the subsequent hearing, the accusations were upheld.

Conor Benn, what happened between him and BBBofC?

Hence, Conor Benn maintains that these allegations of wrongdoing had nothing to do with his positive drug test results. Instead, his differences with BBBofC stem from two points – a matter of ‘confidentiality’ and who has authority over his adverse VADA drug testing.

Read More: “It’s Mad How Much Smaller His Arms Are Now”: Conor Benn’s Physique Weeks After Positive Drug Test Causes a Stir

Per his attorneys, the case pertains to WBC. However, in parallel, there are reports of the United Kingdom Anti Doping agency (UKAD) wanting to look into the matter. During an interview with Sun Sport, Conor Benn reportedly said, “I won’t be boxing under the British Board ever again. I will not box for them ever again.”

As the situation remains in deadlock, reports came that Benn and his team are assisting the WBC inquiry. On December 17 last year, they gave the sanctioning organization 270-page information arguing his side of the case. But on January 27, Michael Benson shared a tweet with an official from BBBofC, Robert Smith, stating, “The information we require, we haven’t received. For whatever reason Mr Benn’s legal team have decided. They’ve sent a [270-page] document to the WBC, we have not seen that.”

Conor Benn tweeted to Smith, “Don’t worry, Robert Smith @BBBofCuk, you’ll be hearing from my lawyers!!”

An official from the BBBofC provides an update on the situation

Yesterday iD Boxing shared a clip of an interview Smith gave through its Twitter handle, “The @BBBofCuk’s Robert Smith speaks out on @ConorNigel’s ongoing case: “I’m as frustrated as anybody else.”

When asked, “Robert, obviously there’s a lot of talk at the minute circulating around kind of Ben; What’s the latest with him? We saw, uh an article come out from a daily mail saying that he hasn’t been as Cooperative around the 270-page document he sent to the WBC and not unto yourselves. Can you just fill us in on kind of your understanding of where things stood around that.”

Smith responded, “I can’t say anything I’d love to say, but I can’t I’m very I’m as frustrated as anybody else, but I can’t say anything tomorrow, unfortunately.”

When the interviewer fielded the new question, “Obviously, we’ve seen Connor himself tweet directly to you saying you would hear from his legal team again, um, what do you make of that? Do you see that as a person now toward you?” Smith answered, “No, it’s one of those things I can live with; that it’s not a problem.”

Earlier, Robert Smith also emphasized the fact that the WBC does not regulate boxers. Hence, they can prohibit Benn from competing in their WBC title fights and rankings. But they cannot permanently ban him from Boxing. Even WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed that they are focusing on the single test conducted as part of WBC’s “VADA Clean Boxing Program” as opposed to examining both positive samples simultaneously.

Whatever the case be, both Conor Benn and promoter Eddie Hearn are pushing for a conclusion to the most in public.

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What is your take on the whole issue? Do share your view and comments with us in the comments below.