Everything you need to know about Conor Benn's ban from boxing

Everything we know about Conor Benn's ban from boxing

Conor Benn challenges Ryan Garcia Saturday night, September 12, in Las Vegas for the WBC World welterweight championship.

It's the 29-year-old 'Destroyer's' first shot at a world title, but four years ago it was a very different story, with the Essex boy sat out on the sidelines serving a suspension.

Almost a full four years and five fights have passed since Benn's two positive tests came to light, but it's still a very recent memory for most.

At the final press conference for this weekend's fight, Garcia began eating boiled eggs in front of Benn, goading him, to which Nigel Benn shook his head in anger.

1. Positive drug tests: In late 2022, Conor Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene in two separate Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) tests. These results surfaced just days before his highly anticipated grudge match against Chris Eubank Jr.
2. The substance involved: Clomifene is a fertility drug that is strictly prohibited in sport because it can be used to boost testosterone levels or mask steroid use. Benn has consistently denied intentional use, suggesting the results were caused by "high egg consumption" or environmental contamination.
3. Fight cancellation: Due to the adverse findings, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) refused to sanction the Eubank Jr fight, declaring it "prohibited" for the safety of the sport. This decision caused the entire event to collapse at the last minute, leading to massive financial losses for promoters and fans.
4. Relinquishing license: Shortly after the scandal broke, Benn voluntarily gave up his British boxing license rather than attending a hearing with the BBBofC. While this allowed him to avoid an immediate domestic hearing, it effectively barred him from competing in the UK for over a year.
5. Provisional suspension by UKAD: On March 15, 2023, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) formally charged Benn with an anti-doping rule violation and placed him under a provisional suspension. This legal status prevented him from participating in any competition recognised by World Anti-Doping Code-compliant bodies.
6. The jurisdictional battle: A major part of the ban involved a legal dispute over whether UKAD had the authority to punish Benn for tests conducted by VADA, a private agency. Benn’s legal team argued that since the tests weren't official UKAD samples, the suspension was legally invalid.
7. Appeals and reinstatements: Benn’s suspension was lifted in July 2023 but then sensationally reimposed in May 2024 after UKAD and the BBBoC won a high-profile appeal. This see-saw legal status kept him in a state of professional limbo, preventing him from building momentum in his career.
8. Eventual exoneration: In November 2024, the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) finally cleared Benn of the charges, stating they were "not comfortably satisfied" that he had committed a violation. This ruling officially ended his suspension and paved the way for his return to major competition in 2025 and 2026.
9. Fights since ban lifted: The Brit's first opponent upon his return to action was Rodolfo Orozco, whom he defeated via a unanimous decision in September 2023. He then beat Peter Dobson five months later but had to wait over a year before entering the ring again as he lost to Eubank Jr in April 2025. Benn earned redemption in their November rematch with his own unanimous decision victory.
10. Egg-gate: When Chris Eubank Jr. finally came face-to-face with his born rival, on February 25, he took the premeditated chance to slam a raw egg into his enemy's face, causing mayhem on stage at the first press event to launch their fight. Eubank was subsequently fined £100,000 by the BBBofC for his violent actions.