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1st March 2023
10:57am GMT
Conor Benn breaks his silence on 'egg controversy' after the WBC have included him in their world rankings again, following a failed drug test.
The 'Dark Destroyer' was due to meet Chris Eubank Jr in a blockbuster showdown until the fight had to be postponed at the last minute because it was reported that Benn failed a drug test.
After several statements, investigations and repeated claims that he was innocent, the WBC ruled that the illegal substance found in his body could have came from a "highly-elevated consumption of eggs".
Despite this meaning that the 26-year-old is now reinstated in the WBC world rankings, the nature of this excuse has caused people to raise some eyebrows.
Benn released a statement reiterating his innocence and criticising the WBC for certain parts of their press release.
The WBC ruled "there were no failures in procedures" connected to Benn's sample but he disputed that claim.
"My sample appears to have come back clear the first [time] it was tested," Benn said in a post on social media.
"Without explanation, it was retested again after nine days and only then did it show a trace positive result."
"I have never previously failed any kind of anti-doping test, and passed multiple tests with both Ukad (UK Anti-Doping) and Vada (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) in close proximity to the two tests that returned adverse findings.
https://twitter.com/ConorNigel/status/1630666186345029642
"This adds further proof to my belief that the findings were testing errors."
He added: "Everything that I have learnt during this process from talking to many experts gives me serious concerns about the whole testing system in the sport.
"Anti-doping protections are obviously extremely important, but so is ensuring people are given due process and presumed innocent until proven guilty."
The WBC said Benn's failed test could have been caused by a "highly-elevated consumption of eggs".
"At no point did I indicate that I failed any Vada tests because of contaminated eggs," said Benn.
https://twitter.com/ConorNigel/status/1630658145444831242"As part of its lengthy investigation, the WBC instructed its own experts to review my supplements and diet, and they concluded that egg contamination was the most likely cause.
"Those experts have seen this issue arise in elite athletes across other sports, and I have no reason to question their analysis when it concludes I am not a cheat."
Benn is still under investigation by Ukad and the BBBofC and is unable to fight in the United Kingdom as he does not have a boxing licence.
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