Hearn won’t give up after the doping positive in Benn vs. Eubank threw Benn vs. Eubank into chaos.
Hearn won’t give up after the doping positive in Benn vs. Eubank threw Benn vs. Eubank into chaos. Eddie Hearn, the fight’s promoter, refused to accept a ruling from the British Boxing Board of Control.
The fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. scheduled to take place in London this coming Saturday should be “prohibited,” throwing the already tumultuous boxing business into a new crisis.
Even though Benn, whom he promotes, tested positive for clomifene according to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, Hearn stated his willingness to legally contest the board’s decision.
It was discovered that Benn had low testosterone levels due to the presence of fertility medicine that can cause dramatic increases in testosterone.
Vada and the World Anti-Doping Agency consider clomifene an illegal performance-enhancing drug.
British Boxing Board of Control Ltd resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn scheduled for 8 October 2022 is prohibited as it is not in the interests of boxing.
This decision was made on the evening of 4 October 2022, just two hours after the Daily Mail broke the story of Benn’s positive test. On October 5, 2022, word was sent to the fighters and promoters involved.
Statements
Hearn refused to accept this definitive ruling, “with the attorneys, going backward and forwards right now,” which astonished outsiders who had not been accustomed to the brazen cynicism of boxing.
There was no response to our request for comment from Robert Smith, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control. Moreover, Vada president Margaret Goodman stated, “Vada’s policy is to not comment on any fighter’s test findings.”
Hearn claimed in a statement posted by his promotional organization Matchroom earlier in the day, “The B sample has still to be analyzed, indicating that no rule infringement has been verified.”
Mr. Benn has not been suspended or charged with any rule violations and is still free to compete.
Benn’s promoter and the Board of Control-appointed British anti-doping authority Ukad have declared him clean. Benn has also declared himself to be a “clean athlete.” Benn proclaimed, “I haven’t violated anything. In my opinion, the bout can still go on because I have not been suspended.
Declarations
I’ve talked with Chris [Eubank Jr.] about this, and we both want the fight to go on. We’ve both sought professional medical and legal advice and are committed to ensuring the fight goes as planned for the fans.
I’ve submitted to every conceivable form of volunteer anti-doping testing… Every single Ukad test I’ve taken has returned negative throughout my professional career.
Until now, I’ve had zero problems. I have had a negative result come back from my initial [Vada] screening, and my team is investigating the cause. There will be an explanation by Saturday.
Speaking for Eubank Jr., Promoter Kalle Sauerland stated, “We took medical advice.
Although [Clomifene] has been shown to increase testosterone levels, none of the surveyed experts saw any discernible benefit. Based on that, we immediately talked with our most valuable asset, the athlete. [Eubank Jr.] was content to keep going.
Scientists have found that clomifene can increase testosterone levels by as much as 146%, as noted by sports medicine expert Ross Tucker.
Remarks
Hearn stated that the initial Vada sample was collected “a couple of weeks ago” but that the delay in testing the B sample was due to “a timing issue” before adding, “I can’t comment too much about it at the time.” But in the end, a specialist will analyze that specimen.
Hearn added that the British Boxing Board of Control “do not acknowledge Vada testing.” Hearn cited the case of British boxer Billy Joe Saunders, who was banned in Massachusetts after a bad finding on his Vada test but later reinstated after the British Boxing Board of Control recognized a Ukad test clearing him of any illegality.
So, Hearn argued, the board must decide what it wants to do. Since they haven’t suspended Benn and can’t at this point, he is free to compete.
The rivalry between Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn Sr., whose sons will be fighting in Saturday night’s much-anticipated O2 event, dates back to the 1990s when the two fathers engaged in two harsh and nasty fights.
Eubank Sr. was worried that his 33-year-old son, who would be fighting Benn Jr., wouldn’t reach the 157-pound catchweight limit, so he tried to dissuade him from fighting.
When Eubank Jr. opted to fight at super-middleweight, where boxers weigh in at 168 pounds, his father voiced concerns that his son’s severe weight cut could cause him to get dehydrated, a known contributor to brain damage sustained by boxers who are hit in the head.
Considering Benn’s welterweight division, Eubank Jr.’s declaration that he would still fight Benn is cause for concern. Benn will battle Eubank Jr. while 10 pounds over the welterweight limit. This week, Eubank Sr. issued a call for a boycott of the bout, asking people not to attend or watch the event on television.
Facts
According to Hearn, a million PPV buys would be a successful outcome for the bout. This seems like an outrageous boast, but it’s in keeping with the shady lingo of boxing.
Earlier in his promotional career, Hearn made the embarrassing statement, “What is the point in joining up for drug testing if, when you fail, everyone just goes: ‘Oh, don’t worry about it. In other words, let him square off. The fact that Ukad approves is completely beyond the point. You’ve agreed to submit to drug testing through Vada, which is, in my opinion, the top testing agency in the sport.
These remarks were forgotten amid a last-ditch effort to reverse the Board of Control’s decision to call off the fight scheduled for Saturday night. Hearn seems certain that he can convince the court to overturn the ban on the bout, even though his case has become a complete farce.
Read More: Eddie Hearn Net Worth, Height, Wife All You Need To Know