CONOR BENN has sensationally slammed the WBC’s egg-based explanation for his doping saga and turned the finger at the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for allegedly bungling his tests.
The 26-year-old welterweight failed two VADA tests in the summer, for female fertility drug clomifene, leading to the British Boxing Board of Control cancelling his mega-money clash with Chris Eubank Jr at the 11th hour.
Benn has always protested his innocence and, alongside expert doping lawyer Mike Morgan, delivered a 270-page document to the Mexican sanctioning body raising serious questions about VADA’s handling of his case and mentioning the rare but documented instances of eggs creating clomifene red flags in athletes.
The World Boxing Cancel – eager to wash their hands of the subject – accepted the EGG-cuse, which led to Benn getting pelters on social media, having previously explained that his diet is largely plant-based.
But the son of British ring legend Nigel has hit back at the flimsy statement – that did more harm than good – and demanded answers from America-based VADA.
In a lengthy statement he said: “In my defence to the WBC and the 270-page document provided to them, at no point did I indicate that I failed any of my VADA tests due to contamination of eggs.
READ MORE ON BOXING
“The WBC instructed its own experts to analyse my supplements and diet and they concluded that egg contamination was the most likely cause.
“The report prepared by my science and legal team contained extensive analysis of both tests and concluded that there was clear evidence of fundamental flaws and irregularities.”
Benn insists that one of his samples returned negative results THREE times but a FOURTH attempt on the same urine recorded a trace of the banned substance.
The father-of-one is also adamant that – according to the rules – he sent a legal representative to America to witness his B sample being opened, only for her to be refused access.
Most read in Boxing
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
He added: “These critical findings were endorsed by an independent scientist who provides accreditation for laboratories and his opinion was that the many issues were so troubling and serious that the lab could lose its accreditation.
“My defence is not a technical defence to exploit a loophole.
“I am convinced the substance was never in my system and I certainly never knowingly ingested it.”
This is all in stark contrast to the statement the WBC released, which cleared VADA – the company they pay to run their Clean Boxing Programme – and Benn to return to their rankings.
It read: “there were no failures in the procedures related to sample collection, sample analysis, or violations of Mr Benn’s B Sample rights that would justify questioning or invalidating the adverse finding.
“And Mr Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding.”
Despite the catalogue of failings Benn claims he has against VADA, SunSport understands he is still not willing to share his data with the British Boxing Board of Control, nor UK Anti-doping.
Until the BBBofC sees some evidence they will refuse to licence Benn or permit him to fight on these shores, pushing him toward a career resumption in the Middle East.
But Benn was first to rip up his licence in mid-October – before a hearing could take place – as he believes there is a bias and agenda against him and his father, a notion the Board strongly denies, and he will never apply for a BBBof C licence again.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
