Conor Benn makes "evidence doesn't lie" claim after failed drug test

17 January 2023 , 10:53

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Conor Benn makes "evidence doesn't lie" claim after failed drug test

Conor Benn has declared the "evidence doesn't lie" as he continues to insist he has proven his innocence following a failed drug test last year.

Benn has yet to be officially exonerated by the British Boxing Board of Control, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) or the World Boxing Council (WBC) after his bout with Chris Eubank Jr was cancelled last October. But that hasn't stopped the young fighter from insisting he is innocent, and declaring he has proven such.

His promoter Eddie Hearn has already been discussing options for a return to the ring this year, although it appears no decision has been made regarding the 26-year-old's future. And in a new social media post, Benn wrote that "the evidence doesn't lie" and again defended himself against accusations of cheating.

"Been through hell and back," Benn wrote in a caption over a photo of himself. "Thank God for science. The evidence doesn't lie. No holes in the truth." He also shared a brief quote from an interview with WBC boss Mauricio Sulaiman, who told Tha Boxing Voice : “He can fight; he’s free to fight. He’s not in any way suspended. The WBC has the obligation to do the whole process."

Last year, Benn relinquished his British boxing licence, but he could theoretically fight elsewhere given his lack of suspension from the sport. He was also removed from the WBC's world rankings while the investigation into his failed test is completed by the governing body.

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Conor Benn continues to insist that he has proven his innocence (PA)

Eubank Jr, who is set to face Liam Smith this Saturday in his first fight since the incident, was initially willing to allow the fight to proceed before the British Boxing Board of Control stepped in. Promoter Eddie Hearn then insisted he would do all he could to ensure the bout went ahead before ultimately deciding against the idea after a major backlash within the sport.

Benn tested positive for the banned substance, fertility drug clomiphene, which increases testosterone levels in males, during routine tests before his fight with Eubank Jr. He was planning to jump up 10lb to meet his rival at a catchweight of 157lb but the fight was called off, meaning both men missed out on huge paydays.

Donagh Corby