Benn’s provisional doping suspension lifted

Conor Benn’s provisional suspension has been lifted after a two-year battle 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 in 2022 he twice tested positive for a banned substance, women’s fertility drug Clomifene, in voluntary drug tests.

His suspension has been withdrawn after Ukad said the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) was “not comfortably satisfied” that it and the Board had proved he had committed an anti-doping rule violation.

Benn says he has been “cleared of any wrongdoing” and has always been “an advocate for clean sport”.

“This past 24 months has unquestionably been the toughest fight of my life,” Benn wrote in a statement published on X., external

“[It has been} a rollercoaster period within which the WBC had already decided that I was innocent and the NADP decided in the first instance that there was no case to answer and I was free to fight.”

Ukad say the “charge against him has been consequently dismissed” however, they are reviewing the decision “in accordance with its appeal rights”.

They have 21 days to lodge that appeal.

BBC Sport has contacted the BBBofC for comment.

Ukad added it is “unable to publicly disclose” the full decision of the NADP at this time without Benn’s consent.

A key issue at the heart of Benn’s case was the drug tests were conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) and paid for by Benn’s promoters Matchroom Boxing, and not by Ukad.

The NADP lifted his ban in July 2023 but he was provisionally suspended again after appeals by Ukad and the BBBofC were upheld in May.