Conor Benn is apparently confident that his sullied name will eventually be vindicated.
Benn, the popular British welterweight, found himself in dire straits recently after it was revealed that he tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene. The revelation led to the cancellation of his highly anticipated 157-pound catchweight fight with Chris Eubank Jr. at the O2 in London at the 11th hour.
Benn, 26, has repeatedly claimed his innocence. He is reportedly being investigated by UK Anti-Doping, the testing branch that works in tandem with the British Boxing Board of Control. If found guilty, Benn could face up to a ban of two to four years.
Recently, the Daily Mail, which first broke the story of Benn’s positive test, claimed that Benn had tested positive for clomiphene in another situation; it is not clear when the date of that alleged positive result was produced. Clomiphene, a fertility drug that raises testosterone levels in men, is a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
In a post made on his Instagram story on Wednesday, Benn took aim at his critics and implied that he believes he has a good chance of beating the drug charge.
“I HOPE THE APOLOGY IS AS LOUD AS THE DISRESPECT,” Benn wrote.
Benn failed a VADA-administered drug test; VADA, a third-party entity that entered into a contract with both Benn and Eubank and whose service was paid for by the promoters, is not a partner of the BBBofC, which works in tandem with UKAD.
“I am still completely shocked and surprised by this and it has been a tough couple of days,” Benn wrote in an Instagram post shortly after the news of his positive test broke. “My team and I will consider the next options including rescheduling the fight, but my immediate focus is on clearing my name because I am a clean athlete!”
In recent days, former opponents have spoken up loudly against Benn, including Chris Algieri and Chris van Heerden.
Recently, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, Benn’s promoter, expressed optimism that a full investigation will lead to Benn’s exoneration.
Eubank Jr.-Benn was supposed to be a fight that earned the winner generational bragging rights. The fight received widespread interest in England because the fighters' fathers produced the country's most fearsome boxing rivalry in the 1990s.
