Benn's provisional doping suspension lifted

Conor Benn's provisional suspension has been lifted aft a two-year conflict with UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).

Benn, 28, is an unbeaten welterweight with a 23-0 record, but successful 2022 helium doubly tested affirmative for a banned substance, women's fertility cause Clomifene, successful voluntary cause tests.

His suspension has been withdrawn aft Ukad said the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) was "not comfortably satisfied" that it and the Board had proved helium had committed an anti-doping regularisation violation.

Benn says helium has been "cleared of immoderate wrongdoing" and has ever been "an advocator for cleanable sport".

"This past 24 months has unquestionably been the toughest combat of my life," Benn wrote successful a connection published connected X., external

"[It has been} a rollercoaster play wrong which the WBC had already decided that I was guiltless and the NADP decided successful the archetypal lawsuit that determination was nary lawsuit to reply and I was escaped to fight."

Ukad accidental the "charge against him has been consequently dismissed" however, they are reviewing the determination "in accordance with entreaty rights".

They person 21 days to lodge that appeal.

BBC Sport has contacted the BBBofC for comment.

Ukad added it is "unable to publically disclose" the afloat determination of the NADP astatine this clip without Benn's consent.

A cardinal contented astatine the bosom of Benn's lawsuit was the cause tests were conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) and paid for by Benn's promoters Matchroom Boxing, and not by Ukad.

Benn is present escaped to resume his warring vocation successful the UK and plans to reschedule a bout with Chris Eubank Jr.

Both fighters' teams are pushing for the contention and the penchant is for the combat to instrumentality spot successful the UK, alternatively than successful Saudi Arabia.

Eubank and Benn clashed successful the Kingdom past period during the week starring up to Artur Beterbiev's triumph implicit Dmitry Bivol. Benn past joined his rival successful the ringing aft Eubank stopped Kamil Szeremeta.

Eddie Hearn, who promotes Benn, said helium expects the combat to hap aboriginal successful 2025.

"It's the easiest combat successful the satellite to promote," helium said.

"The archetypal clip we sold retired the highest ever gross astatine the O2 for boxing. It was sold truthful rapidly I can't adjacent archer you. Now, with everything, its 3 oregon 4 times bigger," helium said.

"I deliberation you'll spot it successful February oregon March 2025. It tin onshore successful Riyadh but AJ-Dubois (Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois) was epic for British boxing and this volition beryllium too.

"It's ever bully to person astatine slightest 1 stadium combat a year. To bash that successful the archetypal 4th would beryllium encouraging for what mightiness follow."

Benn was initially suspended from boxing successful March 2023 aft helium failed 2 voluntary tests for clomifene earlier his cancelled bout with chap Briton Chris Eubank Jr.

The brace were scheduled to conscionable connected 8 October 2022 astatine a catchweight of 157lb, astir 30 years aft their fathers Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr fought. Eubank Sr won the archetypal combat successful 1990, portion the 1993 rematch was declared a draw.

Clomifene tin beryllium utilized to boost testosterone levels successful men, and is banned wrong and extracurricular contention by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).

BBBofC wide caput Robert Smith said Benn was provisionally barred from participating successful immoderate capableness successful a contention organised, convened, authorised oregon recognised by his organisation.

Benn has ever insisted helium is innocent of intentionally doping. He has blamed "contamination" for the findings. His defence outlined determination was a responsibility with the Vada investigating laboratory.

An autarkic study by the WBC successful February 2023 said his failed drugs trial was not intentional and could person been caused by a "highly-elevated consumption" of eggs, but Benn was inactive nether probe by Ukad and the BBBofC.

NADP lifted the suspension past July and Benn believed helium was escaped to fight successful the UK again.

However, appeals made by Ukad and the BBBofC against that determination were upheld successful May.

Speaking to BBC Sport successful October, promoter Hearn said Benn had been "penalised by his absorption to judge guilt" and that his combatant would beryllium warring successful the UK sooner had helium taken a prohibition handed to him pursuing the failed test.

"For me, knowing and believing helium is innocent, to spot what helium has had to spell done implicit the past 2 years is beauteous brutal," Hearn said.

"Unfortunately due to the fact that of the mode the process has played out, he's ruffled feathers with the authorities and helium hasn't played ball.

"They would person liked to tidy the concern up rapidly but helium wanted to appeal, research and supply his reasoning and evidence."

Benn has fought doubly successful the United States with the astir caller successful February a unanimous points triumph implicit Peter Dobson successful a welterweight contest successful Las Vegas.

Had helium accepted guilt and a consequent prohibition successful the UK, however, it is improbable American diversion commissions – who thin to broadside with sanctions handed to fighters by their planetary counterparts – would person allowed Benn to vie successful the country.