An 'adverse analytical finding' from a random drug test involving Conor Benn has led to the British Boxing Board of Control 'prohibiting' his fight with Chris Eubank Jr from going ahead.
Given the history between their respective fathers, the 157lbs catchweight bout at the O2 Arena has being billed as one of the biggest ever on British shores.
However, the fight was thrown into considerable doubt on Wednesday when it was revealed that Benn had tested positive for a substance which is on the banned WADA list.
The 26-year-old is said to have produced "trace amounts" of clomifene, which is usually used to treat infertility in women but can increase testosterone in men.
A statement from promoters Matchroom Sport and Wasserman Boxing initially claimed that the fight would still be allowed to go ahead as planned.
© Reuters
It read: "We have been made aware that a random anti-doping test for Conor Benn conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association returned an adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug.
"Mr Benn has since passed a doping control test conducted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency, the anti-doping authority to which the British Board of Boxing Control has delegated its doping control testing for the bout. Mr Benn has passed all doping control tests conducted by UKAD.
"Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice, are aware of all relevant information, and wish to proceed with the bout this Saturday."
However, the BBBofC have responded with a statement of their own, saying that it will not allow the clash to take place this weekend.
‼️ Statement from the British Boxing Board of Control declaring that Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn is PROHIBITED from taking place on Saturday night after Benn tested positive for clomifene... pic.twitter.com/XnpZHxcBvJ
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 5, 2022
Speaking to Matchroom's official Youtube channel, Eddie Hearn says that a legal process will now take to determine whether the fight can still go ahead.
Hearn stated that the BBBofC are not in a position to suspend Benn because he has passed all of their own drug tests.
Furthermore, Hearn admitted that the entire event would be postponed if the main event was not permitted to take place.
