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Boxing

07th Oct 2022

Conor Benn’s ‘banned substances’ comments in 2019 have not aged well

Lee Costello

“The biggest fight of your career and you get tested positive for a banned substance. It baffles me.”

Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr is postponed after Benn tested positive for banned substances, and now an interview from 2019 has come back to haunt the fighter.

The ‘Dark Destroyer’ was just two days away from stepping into the ring to fight Eubank Jr in a match up that was over 30 years in the making.

Both fighter’s fathers, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr fought twice in the ’90s in two legendary bouts, and now their sons were about to settle the score once and for all.

Conor Benn banned substances

However, Benn has tested positive for a fertility drug which can be used to boost testosterone, meaning that the bout has been called off.

In 2019, Anthony Joshua was set to face Jarrell Miller in a grudge match that was then called of in short notice because the Englishman’s opponent tested positive for performance enhancers.

Sky Sports caught up with Benn in his gym shortly after this news broke, and he gave a pretty damming interview which has now come back to bite him.

Conor Benn banned substances

Eubank Jr posted a clip of the interview on his social media channels, with the caption: “I mean I really just don’t have any words at this point #EubankJrBenn”

“I just heard it when I got to the gym this morning – I can’t believe it,’ Benn told Sky Sports News when the news broke of Miller’s positive test.

“The biggest fight of your life, the biggest fight of your career and you get tested positive for a banned substance. It baffles me.

Conor Benn banned substances

‘I’m not even at world level and my nutritionist has a go at me for taking vitamin C tablets if they haven’t been tested,’ Benn revealed.

‘So, the team he’s got around him should say: “Listen, check all your substances! You’re earning a few good quid here, and why put that to risk?”‘

Benn has maintained his innocence in light of his positive test and vowed in an Instagram post on Thursday evening to try to clear his name so that his fight with Eubank Jr can be rescheduled.

‘I am truly gutted that we were unable to make this fight happen on Saturday and I’m sorry to everyone who has been affected by the postponement,’ he wrote.

‘I am still completely shocked and surprised by this and it has been a tough couple of days. My team and I will consider the next options including rescheduling the fight, but my immediate focus is on clearing my name because I am a clean athlete!’

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