CONOR BENN has broken his silence after his return to British boxing took a giant step towards coming to fruition.
Benn – the son of world former champ Nigel – was banned by the British Boxing Board of Control and the National Anti-Doping Panel after failing two drug tests in the build-up to his cancelled clash with Chris Eubank Jr in October 2022.
The NAD, however, lifted the suspension earlier this month – although both the BBBofC and UKAD had the right to appeal the decision.
But both governing bodies have chosen NOT to appeal the decision, paving the way for Conor to fight in the UK for the first time in over two-and-a-half years.
And an elated Conor took to X shortly after the news broke, posting a shush emoji in a message to his detractors.
Despite the good news, Conor still has one hurdle left to clear before he can box in the UK.
He must first successfully apply for a new BBBofC license, which he ripped up in the fallout of his failed tests, to compete on these shores.
Alternatively, he could secure a foreign license and obtain board approval to fight here.
The World Anti-Doping Agency could, however, scupper a UK return as they have extended deadline of 21 days to appeal the NADP’s ruling.
Conor’s positive tests returned traces of the banned female fertility drug clomiphene, which can increase testosterone levels in men.
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He vehemently ever denied intentionally taking the substance, which he believes may have entered his system through “contamination”.
Conor, who has twice fought in America during the ongoing saga, doubled down on his innocence after the NADP lifted his suspension.
He said: “I am thankful that after an incredibly challenging two years the National Anti-Doping Panel has today finally cleared me of any wrongdoing.
“The past 24 months have unquestionably been the toughest fight of my life. “
“A rollercoaster period within which the WBC had already decided that I was innocent and the NADP decided in the first instance that there was no case to answer and I was free to fight.
“As someone who is passionate about boxing and an advocate for clean sport, I hope now that I have been cleared it can be understood why I maintained my innocence so strongly throughout.
“As a man of God, I bear no ill will toward UKAD or the British Boxing Board of Control.
“We have a shared ambition of a clean sport and I look forward to reconciling with the Board and moving forward together.”
