The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) have insisted Conor Benn has not cleared his name and shouldn’t be making a return to the ring this weekend.
It was announced on Wednesday that Benn is set to fight for the first time since twice testing positive for clomifene in 2022 when he takes on little-known Mexican Rodolfo Orozco in Orlando on Saturday – despite the unresolved doping case that could yet see him banned from the sport.
Although his suspension in Britain was lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel in July, the fighter is still facing a potential two-year ban in this country pending the outcome of appeals against that decision by the BBBofC and UK Anti-Doping, as first reported by Mail Sport.
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn has repeatedly claimed he has cleared his name and is free to fight, but general secretary of the BBCofC Robert Smith disagreed.
‘Although it’s a sport, we don’t deal with teams, we deal with individuals,’ he told talkSPORT.
The British Boxing Board of Control have insisted Conor Benn has not cleared his name and shouldn’t be making a return to the ring this weekend when he takes on Rodolfo Orozco
The BBBofC’s general secretary Robert Smith (left) insisted several issues are still outstanding
‘And sometimes people look after themselves rather than the sport in general, which is slightly disappointing.
‘I understand why they do it, but no I don’t think he should be boxing. Personally I don’t think he should be boxing until this matter is cleared. Hopefully that’ll be done as soon as possible.’
Smith continued: ‘He hasn’t cleared it (his name), a number of issues are still outstanding which everybody’s aware of.
‘We’ve decided to appeal a decision and once the appeal has taken place we’ll take it on board from there.
‘But when Eddie says he’s cleared his name, according to us we haven’t had an explanation of how the positive test came about, so I don’t quite agree with Eddie on that one.’
Benn has previously pointed to that NADP ruling as a ‘vindication’ of his innocence, though sources have told Mail Sport that the hearing did not focus on the key question of how the banned substance entered his body.
Benn has not fought in 17 months after his fight with Chris Eubank Jr was cancelled due to his failed drugs test
Smith refuted the claims of Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn that he has cleared his name
One strand of the argument deployed by Benn’s legal team is believed to have nosed on the right of UKAD to rule on samples collected by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
The fight against Orozco will see Benn resume his career after a 17-month hiatus, with a view to resurrecting his postponed showdown against Chris Eubank Jr in December.
Benn said: ‘I am undefeated in the ring and in spirit. A return on Saturday is a step closer to redemption.
‘After that, I’m putting the 147-160 divisions on notice. You are looking at a determined man with a deep desire to beat them all.’