Conor Benn is set to return to the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings after the organisation ruled a “highly-elevated consumption of eggs” was considered a “reasonable explanation” for his failed drugs test.
Benn was due to face Chris Eubank Jr in October, but the fight was cancelled after amounts of a fertility drug, clomiphene – which is known to elevate testosterone levels in men – were found in his urine.
The WBC removed Benn from their world rankings after he failed the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) testing.
The 26-year-old London boxer had tweeted at the time he was “truly gutted” the fight couldn’t go ahead and he was determined to clear his name because he was a “clean athlete”.
Benn was cleared of doping on Wednesday after an appeal and has been reinstated into the WBC rankings.
‘Adverse finding’
The WBC said in a statement Benn’s team had provided a detailed breakdown of the boxer’s diet and supplement consumption that could have directly affected the “adverse finding”.
Having consulted an expert nutritionist, the WBC said it found there was “no conclusive evidence” that Benn “engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of clomiphene”.
The sanctioning body also ruled there were no failures in the procedures related to sample collection and analysis.
“Mr Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding,” it said.
It added Benn would undergo “regular anti-doping testing” and his team would be coming up with a new diet for the boxer “to avoid the risk of a future adverse finding caused by nutritional factors”.
Benn remains under investigation by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), and while that is ongoing he would not be licensed to box in the UK.
However, it is possible he would be able to find another country and an alternative jurisdiction to box in.
The BBBoC, which issued its own statement, said the WBC decision “does not affect the ongoing implementation” of its rules.
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“The BBBoC has not been party to the review conducted by the WBC and has not been provided with sight of any evidence submitted on Mr Benn’s behalf,” it said.
It added: “Whilst the BBBoC wishes to make clear that it respects the WBC, the WBC is a sanctioning body and not a governing body.
“The BBBoC was the governing body with whom Mr Benn was licensed at the material time, and as such any alleged anti-doping violation shall be dealt with in accordance with its rules and regulations.”
Benn, son of former super-middleweight world champion Nigel Benn, is yet to lose a fight in his professional career, with 21 consecutive wins.
