The announcement that a boxer had tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance earlier this week caused one of the weekend’s largest combat sports events to be in turmoil (PED).
According to a sample examined by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) last month, Conor Benn had the fertility medication Clomifene in his system. It is forbidden in sports to take clomifene, which may be used to increase testosterone levels.
According to a Thursday print issue of The Times, all parties, including Chris Eubank Jr. and his promoter Kalle Sauerland as well as Eddie Hearn, who represents Benn at Matchroom, were aware of the test at the time.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), which governs the sport in the UK and was in charge of the fight on Saturday at London’s 02 Arena, agreed.
The Daily Mail’s revelation earlier this week seemed to alter everything, yet it seemed that nothing was done at the time.
The BBBoC abruptly banned the 157-pound catchweight fight, to to the dismay of Hearn and Sauerland, once the public learned about the test and the uproar that ensued.
The Eubank vs. Benn bout is outlawed because it is not in the best interests of boxing, according to a statement released by the BBBoC on Tuesday.
Matchroom stated “no rule breach has been verified” in a statement issued to Insider on Wednesday since only an A-sample had “returned an unfavorable analytical result” and the “B-sample has still to be analyzed.”
Benn “is not suspended, and he remains free to fight,” according to Matchroom.
Despite the positive test, Matchroom was satisfied for the fight to go on as scheduled.
Benn had been filing negative test results with the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) agency rather than accepting VADA’s conclusions, according to the promoter.
Despite the detection of Clomifene, Matchroom said that both boxers were content for the event to go on as planned and that all involved parties also wanted it to.
Even though they had vowed to sue the BBBoC, Matchroom and Eubank’s firm Wasserman Boxing released a belated statement on Thursday stating that the broadcast could not air.
In a statement sent to Insider, Matchroom stated: “We have decided to officially postpone the fight.”
“The BBBoC’s decision to remove its sanctions was procedurally faulty and made without due process, it is evident,” the statement said. We still want to pursue that legal matter between the Board and the promoters.
The stance taken by Hearn and Matchroom on drugs contrasts with the promoter’s prior stance.
As the issue has become more personal, Hearn’s position on drugs seems to have softened.
Hearn previously said concerning adverse tests obtained by VADA, as quoted by The Guardian, “What is the purpose of joining up for drug testing if, when you fail, everyone simply says, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it. Let him fight, please.
Hearn once stated, “The notion that it’s OK with UKAD is utterly immaterial. You agreed to submit to drug testing via VADA, which in my view is the greatest testing organization in sports.
Hearn essentially stated the contrary this week.
Insider asked Hearn reps at Matchroom for comment about the specifics of this claim, but as of Thursday had not heard back.