“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.”
WBC Ruling Regarding Conor Benn Issued by WBC Board of Governors: Conor Benn completed his enrollment process in the WBC Clean Boxing Program in February of 2022. Enrollment in the WBC CBP is mandatory for all fighters rated in the top 15 in the WBC Ratings. Accordingly, he was enrolled in the WBC CBP’s out-of-competition anti-doping testing in July of 2022, when the collection of the samples to which the WBC Ruling being announced herein pertains took place.
On August 23, 2022, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (“VADA”) notified Mr. Benn and the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) that the urine “A Sample” collected from him on July 25, 2022, in connection with his participation in the WBC/VADA anti-doping testing program yielded an adverse analytical finding for Clomiphene and its hydroxymetabolites MI and M2.
Clomiphene and its metabolites are banned substances at all times under the WBC CBP. Clomiphene is a metabolic modulator which promotes testosterone production and boost testosterone levels while burning fat.
On August 30, 2022, the WBC notified Mr. Benn of the Adverse Finding and requested information and materials necessary to investigate the circumstances thereof. The WBC did not receive a substantive response until December of 2022.
Mr. Benn denied at all times the intentional or knowingly ingestion of any banned substances. His defense against the Adverse Finding centered on allegations of potential laboratory analysis failures and irregularities in connection with the analysis of his samples and of the results of the samples’ testing. The WBC consulted several experts in anti-doping laboratory analysis, including an expert consultant with over 30 years of experience in WADA and IOC accredited laboratory settings. The WBC concluded that there was absolutely no fault attributable to the laboratory that analyzed Mr. Benn’s samples. Further, the WBC reaffirms the unquestionable integrity of VADA and the sample collection agencies and laboratories which services VADA uses in connection with the WBC CBP.
It was not until early January of 2023, that the WBC Results Management Unit was able to undertake the full, substantive analysis of Mr. Benn`s arguments and defenses. On January 26, 2023, members of the WBC Results Management Unit held an inquiry session with Mr. Benn and members of his legal team. In early February of 2023, Mr. Benn’s team for the first time provided a detailed breakdown of Mr. Benn’s diet and supplement consumption that could have directly affected the Adverse Finding.
The WBC availed itself of the services of an expert nutritionist. The WBC experts provided information about the characteristics of the substance at issue in this case and examples of similar adverse findings in several sports, under a diverse number of anti-doping programs.
The WBC Board of Governor’s ruling was based on: (1) the facts as known to the WBC at the time of the ruling; (2) any extenuating circumstances applicable to the specific case at hand; (3) WBC rulings in precedential anti-doping violation cases; (4) the unbiased, common-sensical and just analysis and recommendations of the WBC Results Management Unit; and (5) credible and reliable health-related and scientific literature.
The WBC found that: (1) there was no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene; (2) 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 (3) 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.
The WBC Nutrition Committee will work with Mr. Benn’s team to design a nutrition program geared to avoid the risk of a future adverse finding caused by nutritional factors. Mr. Benn shall be subjected to regular anti-doping testing to monitor the effect of the WBC-ordered nutritional program.
The WBC shall include Mr. Benn in its ratings during the period immediately following the issuance of its ruling. Mr. Benn’s position in the WBC Ratings shall be based solely on his merit and the customary factors the WBC Ratings Committee apply to rating boxers.
The WBC will establish a line of communication with WADA regarding the WBC’s concern about Clomiphene as a food contaminant and the potential of false positives caused by ingestion of contaminated food.
What has boxing come to when a sanctioning body needs a meddlesome Nutrition Committee? Fighters need to just walk away from the WBC and the others and save the sanctioning fees. If a belt is so important to you, then do what Michael Spinks’ promoter did in 1987 and make up your own belt and call it a “world” title. It’s certainly no different than what the sanctioning bodies are doing.
Was a highly-elevated consumption of eggs the main cause of finding the banned substance? If that’s true, maybe that explains why Rocky fought like that against Apollo Creed and the fight should be called a no contest.
Yeah right! A suit case full of money under the table and a cheater becomes an inocent angel, not a secret or something new, first they blame the cow and now the chicken is the culprit, turkeys and lambs are next
Really? Contaminated eggs resulting in a false positive finding of Clomiphene? Maybe that’s why eggs are so expensive these days…they not only cause you to rip from all the gas but they have testosterone-enhancing properties that help you get ripped. Now I get it…it’s not the fighter who’s at fault here; it’s those damn cheating chickens that are ingesting banned substances and getting all goosed up for those cockfighting contests. The narratives in boxing just get more and more ridiculous. Does the WBC think fans are actually buying this garbage?
Does Benn expect us to believe that? He is an absolute liar, cheat and manipulator.
Benn beats Boots Iness all day long. Benn in 2! roided up and on the eggs.
“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.”
– So that means that the chickens must be on steroids too……
Which came first, the chicken or the egg :-p
So is this the type of baloney Mauricio was setting up with his last article?
You read that guy’s little love letters to himself?
So is this the type of baloney Mauricio was setting up with his last article? One word: Shenanigans.
This is Ridiculous!! World Boxing Cartel thinks they’re talking to a bunch of 5th graders here!! This is laughable at a minimum and shameful at best!
I want to get on a “nutrition committee” that would be a simple do nothing side gig. You only have to advise a fighter on what he/his trainer/his team and his family already know when he gets caught cheating. Keep churning out those belts, WBC! Helps to pay for committee’s and all kinds of BS stuff! Whatever can be done to avert away from a uncomfortable situation.
“WBC results managment Unit”… WBC has more divisions than a government
Bronner fight suddently canceled, connor benn reinstated, makes sense for bronner to cancel his non sence lack of ppv sales fight! Bronner taking a beating from benn would be waaaaaay more lucrative for sure!
When where and how
Eggs… My god! How they Can trust such a story…? Eggs…
And for Mr Benn’s next fight morry sooleyman son of josey sooleyman will be making an egg shaped belt…………
Boxing will never grow up as long as these sanctioning body clowns rule the “sport.”
Who knows ? Who cares ? Everyone is on something nowadays
First, they suggest he ate too many eggs. Then they suggest Clomiphene may be a food contaminant and Ben needs to design a nutrition program geared to avoid future busts. This goes to the “someone sprinkled in on my cornflakes” defense. Benn needs to take responsibility for all of his dietary and supplement intake – he is getting a pass.