Conor Benn will not be allowed to box in the UK unless he proves his innocence.
That is the view of the British Boxing Board of Control’s general secretary Robert Smith.
Smith joined Simon Jordan and Spencer Oliver on the talkBOXING show and spoke at length about the ongoing situation involving the undefeated welterweight.
Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) remains embroiled in controversy after twice testing positive for the banned substance clomifene in two separate VADA drug tests.
The failed tests resulted in his October 2022-scheduled clash against Chris Eubank Jr. at the O2 Arena in London, England, being cancelled at the 11th hour.
The situation, which saw Benn relinquish his license with the Board in the aftermath, is being investigated separately by the WBC and by the BBBofC/UKAD (UK Anti-Doping), with no rulings made yet.
And Smith spoke to talkSPORT regarding the saga, which has now been going on for more than 200 days since the first reported failed test, calling Benn –– who is the son of former world champion Nigel and was set to face the son of his Dad’s former rival Chris Eubank at a 157-pound catchweight –– “a great talent”.
“To be honest with you, I hope he can prove he’s innocent,” Smith told talkBOXING. “Because he’s great for the sport.
“Forget the name, forget his background, he’s a really good boxer and we need him. All the sport needs him.
“He attracts people because of his background, I hope he can prove he’s [innocent].”
The aforementioned Eubank Jr. has been back between the ropes since the issue with the 26-year-old Benn reared its ugly head and he was brutally swept aside inside four rounds by former WBO super-welterweight world champion Liam Smith.
‘Beefy’, who was stepping up to middleweight for the fight, now looks set to meet the enigmatic second-generation fighter once more after he revealed he had activated the rematch clause within their bout deal.
But Robert Smith reckons Benn will be unable to fight on UK soil, regardless of whether he is granted a licence by a foreign commission or not, as his promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested, unless he proves his innocence to the sport’s governing body in the UK.
“He will not box on one of our shows in this country until he proves his innocence,” Smith added. “To us and UKAD.
“UKAD acts on our behalf, so we take advice from UKAD. The difference between VADA and UKAD is VADA does the tests but doesn’t do any discipline.
“UKAD does the disciplinary matters and we take it on board because, like every other sport in the country, we’ve signed up with them.
“He will not box here in this country until he’s proved that there is an explanation. He was licensed by us at the time, he has to explain the reason.”