Conor Benn has relinquished his British boxing licence after the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) 'upheld allegations of misconduct' against him following his failed drug test.
Benn had been due to face Chris Eubank Jr earlier this month but the fight was postponed after Benn returned a positive test for banned substance clomifene, a fertility drug which can increase testosterone levels in males.
The British fighter protested his innocence by stating that he is a "clean athlete" and has vowed to clear his name.
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It has now emerged that Benn gave up his boxing licence on the same morning as a BBBoC hearing into the matter on October 21.
"By a notice dated 17th October 2022, Mr Conor Benn was called by the Board of the BBBofC to attend a hearing to deal with allegations of misconduct pursuant to Rule 25.1.1. The hearing took place on 21st October 2022," read a BBBoC statement.
"On the morning of the hearing, Mr Benn voluntarily relinquished his licence with the BBBofC. In accordance with its Rules and Regulations, the Board determined the allegations following the hearing at which Mr. Benn was legally represented.
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"The allegations of misconduct against Mr. Benn were upheld."
Earlier this month, it was revealed that an "adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug" had shown up in one of Benn's tests by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
Benn's fight with Eubank Jr, due to take place at the O2 Arena on October 8, was subsequently postponed after being prohibited the BBBoC - despite both fighters still wanting it to go ahead.
"I am truly gutted that we are unable to make this fight happen on Saturday and I'm sorry to everyone who has been affected by the postponement," Benn posted on social media at the time.
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"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!"
Earlier this week, Benn's promoter – Matchroom Boxing's Eddie Hearn – launched a passionate defence of his fighter and said he believes he is innocent.
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"It's really difficult because everybody will plead their innocence, but when you've got a kid that you've known for six or seven years, who virtually lives with Tony Sims and is a very close friend of mine," Hearn told talkSPORT.
"The most solid man in boxing, who spent 13 or 14 weeks with his dad living in his house, who comes into your office breaking down on the floor, pleading his innocence and looking you in the eyes, giving you every opportunity to tell the truth and when you see the facts, I believe that Conor Benn is innocent in this case.
"Now, listen, maybe it's because he's my mate and you back your mates and maybe it's because I've seen more than you've seen, both in his eyes and on the paper, but all I'm saying is give him an opportunity for things to be heard.
"Someone said that other day that sometimes when you fail a drugs test, it's not innocent until proven guilty, it's guilty until proven innocent and I get that, but also I’ve been through this process before with other fighters and I know the results of this test and I'll be honest with you it doesn't really make sense, but each case has to be heard…
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"And when you hear from him this week, you can't make your decisions from what comes out of his mouth and the look in his eye, but this is a very compelling argument.
"This is a kid who ultimately had the biggest fight and opportunity of his life and he implemented additional testing into this process, he knew he was going to get tested, seven, eight, nine times over a ten or eleven week period, there is no escape in this situation."
Hearn also claimed the BBBoC leaked the results of Benn's test to the media.
"Firstly, nothing was kept quiet. This is a really important fact. People feel this was brushed under the carpet," added Hearn.
"But, the British Boxing Board of Control which are our governing body and the regulators - who decide if a fight will take place or not - knew all information at all points.
"All information around the test will be released by Conor Benn in due course. It's very important for us."
Topics: Boxing
Rory O'Callaghan