‘Vindicated’ – Conor Benn confirms he is free to fight again after being cleared by UK Anti-Doping

Conor Benn says he has been cleared by UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) after an investigation into two failed drug tests in the run-up to his highly-anticipated bout with Chris Eubank Jr last year.

The 26-year-old tested positive for fertility drug clomifene but has always maintained his innocence.

Benn was cleared by the World Boxing Council (WBC) earlier this year, and although Ukad has yet to confirm the results of its investigation, Benn has already released a statement expressing his relief that a “gruelling 10-month process” has come to an end.

“The Ukad process has now firmly ended and I remain free to fight,” Benn said.

“Today marks the end of the of a gruelling 10-month process, during which the WBC had already decided that I was innocent of any wrongdoing.

“After a hearing with the National Anti-Doping Panel and Ukad, I have now been vindicated for the second time.

“Hopefully the public and various members of the media can now understand why I have maintained my innocence so strongly all the way through.”

Benn and Eubank Jr were scheduled to meet on October 8 last year at a catchweight of 157lbs in a clash billed as ‘Born Rivals’, building on the rivalry of their fathers Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr.

However, it was scrapped just days before the pair were due to get in the ring after Benn failed his two voluntary drug tests.

He was later stripped of his boxing license by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) and banned from fighting in the United Kingdom pending compliance with a Ukad investigation.

During the fallout, Eubank Jr was scathing in his criticism of his rival, but Benn was steadfast in defence of his innocence, providing the WBC with a 270-page document pleading his case.

Benn’s promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, added that the “nightmare is over” and tipped his fighter for a September return with an eye on a huge December contest.

“It’s been a brutal, painful year of work and belief,” Hearn said.

“The nightmare is over and he can get back to his career. Now we sit down with Conor and we look at the plan.

“Maybe he has a slightly smaller fight first. He’s been out of the ring for a year and a half, but he wants the big fights ASAP.

“We’ll decide what’s right for him. I like him coming back and having a fight maybe in September, and then going into a huge fight in December.”