Conor Benn’s drawn-out saga with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is yet to reach a satisfactory conclusion, despite ‘The Destroyer’ being cleared to fight on British soil.
The 28-year-old failed two Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) tests back in 2022, ahead of his cancelled showdown against former world title challenger Chris Eubank Jr.
Since then, Benn has been fighting tooth and nail to salvage his damaged reputation, while also looking to restore his suspended licence to box professionally in the UK.
Yet still, while the Brit has now been given the green light to resume his career on home territory, a plethora of questions have largely remained unanswered.
Victor Conte weighs in on Conor Benn’s situation with UKAD
After testing positive for clomiphene, a banned substance, on two separate occasions, Benn was forced to stage his next two outings in America.
Sure enough, the son of British boxing legend Nigel Benn secured unanimous decision victories over two relatively obscure opponents, before revisiting his rivalry with Eubank.
But while the pair have teased a potential clash over the past few months, Benn’s situation with UKAD had, until now, meant that their dustup would not take place in the UK.
Since then, however, the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) has lifted the unbeaten contender’s suspension, giving UKAD the option to appeal its decision.
In a recent statement, though, the British doping agency has confirmed that they will not attempt to overturn this ruling, allowing Benn to fight in the UK.
That said, drug testing expert Victor Conte has raised several questions regarding Benn’s situation.
On X, he wrote: “Will [Benn] now provide any credible evidence about how he was exposed to [clomiphene] on two different dates?
“The particulars of the NADP verdict remain vague owing to confidentiality clauses, meaning there has been no confirmation if Benn’s team provided any scientific explanation for how the banned substance entered his system.
“My guess is that [Eddie Hearn] will provide nonstop hyperbole about Benn being ‘cleared’ and there will be no credible evidence provided to boxing fans.”
Will Conor Benn fight Chris Eubank Jr or Mario Barrios?
At this stage, it remains unclear as to what Benn’s next assignment will be, with the possible Eubank fight now seemingly hanging in the balance.
The controversial bruiser has, after all, called out WBC welterweight titlist Mario Barrios, suggesting that he intends to campaign at 147 lbs for a little while longer.
Eubank, meanwhile, has reportedly been in talks to face WBA middleweight champion Erislandy Lara, though an official announcement is yet to emerge.
Either way, for Benn’s career to rediscover a degree of credibility, one would suspect that he must reveal the evidence that fans are demanding.