Welterweight contender Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn 21-0 (14) has issued a public statement on his failed drug test that scotched his catchweight bout with Chris Eubank Jr 32-2 (23).
The 26-year-old tested positive to women’s fertility drug clomifene in the lead up to his scheduled October 6 bout with Eubank, causing the bout to be cancelled. Clomifene can also increase testosterone in men.
Benn has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight the charges.
“My team and I have worked extremely hard over the past seven years to make me the fighter I am today, we have never cut corners or cheated the grind in any way. We believe in work ethic, determination and pure heart to achieve what we have set out to accomplish,” Benn said.
“It’s been really hard for me to accept that people think that I would do what I was accused of but what I’ve come to realise is people rush to judgement, without knowing the facts especially people in the boxing community (and, most disappointingly, even those that know me).
“Although I’ve kept away from social media, I’m well aware of those who have thrown dirt on my name. I’ll forgive but I won’t forget.
“Tony Sims has had a clean gym for 26 years, I respect the gym. No one is bigger than the gym! Hard work and dedication is what we stand for. We don’t condone cheating or cutting corners.
“I’m thankful to my dad who has been with me through this whole period and I’m glad this nightmare is coming to an end for the sake of our combined mental health.
“Never did we think we’d go through something like this but they say the hardest fight is life and the adversity it brings. I want to make up for lost time and not let another moment go to waste.
“Boxing is my life. I’ve been through hardships in my career before but nothing like this, I believe in life you go through adversity of all kinds but what matters most is how you respond.
“I’ve stayed in the gym and continued to work extremely hard, staying positive that my innocence will be proven and the truth will come out.
“My team has proven my innocence and the truth will soon come out. Until then, I won’t be commenting further due to confidentiality.
“There were times I feared it never would but we all had faith. I’m thankful to everyone who has supported me through this tough time. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. We keep it moving and will continue to chase the end goal of being world champion – it’s a minor setback for a major comeback.
“For now, I am looking forward to sharing Christmas privately with my family and I will be back in January. See you all in 2023, the year I become world champion!”
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn is confident his boxer will be exonerated.
“I can’t wait because I think a lot of people will be surprised by what’s about to come out about Conor Benn,” he said to iD Boxing.
“I think he’s going to be fighting sooner than you think. If he does receive a ban, which from the information that we have, I don’t think it’s necessarily it’s fair.
“But if it is, I don’t think it’s going to be a long ban at all. I don’t want to be too cocksure, but I think it’s going to be really interesting about what comes out here.
“I think there’s a very good chance that he won’t be receiving a ban. Again, I can’t say too much, but that information. This is an independent [investigation].
“This is a legal system that is being rolled through people with all the news and facts. In my opinion, from what I’ve seen, if there is a ban, it cannot be a sizable ban from the facts that will be produced.”
