Conor Benn says he ‘should have stayed quiet’ during the investigation into his failed drugs tests last year as he bids to clear his name after traces of clomiphene were found in his samples.
Benn sat down with Piers Morgan in March 2023 for his first on TV interview after the news of his two failed drugs tests for a banned substance called Clomiphene broke. However, Benn now regrets that decision.
Benn – who maintained his innocence throughout the process – lifted the lid on the ‘hundreds and thousands’ spent on scientists hired to acquit him of the charges during an interview with Morgan.
The 26-year-old also spoke about his communication with the British Boxing Board of Control and the extent of the criticism he had received on social media following his positive tests.
However, Benn feels his appearance on Talk TV ended up causing him more issues in the long run as ‘things’ he said on air ‘were taken out of context, twisted and turned’.
Benn says he should have stayed quiet during the investigation into his failed drugs tests
Benn sat down with Piers Morgan in March 2023 for his first on TV interview after the news of his two failed drugs tests for a banned substance called Clomiphene broke
Benn had been cleared to return to the ring following the verdict of UKAD’s investigation
Reflecting on his decision to do the uncensored interview, Benn said: ‘I should have stayed quiet. I should have stayed quiet but I didn’t realise how many things could be taken out of context, twisted and turned.
‘The reality is, I am what I am. What you see is what you get, in and out of the ring. I am what I am, I couldn’t stay quiet about it. I should have and I could have done. But, there was no right or wrong in these situations.
‘Everyone would have said, oh he’s a cheat, he’s not speaking. So, I thought I’ll go on Piers Morgan and say what I need to say. There’s no holes in the truth. I’ll answer anything. There is nothing to hide.
‘I have nothing to hide. I’ve spent all this money on this legal case, so surely if I had done it I wouldn’t have spent money on scientists. I appointed three of the best scientists in the world on this. Would I or would I have just gone quiet on this and taken the ban quietly?
‘I could have saved all that money and I could have just lied [if I had actually done it]. Could I have just done what every other fights has done in the past? No, instead I am standing my ground. I am fighting this, publicly. I am spending money, publicly. I am dealing with people I need to deal with. So, I am doing everything I can.’
Benn will return to the ring this weekend to take on little-known Mexican Rodolfo Orozco in Orlando.
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 will fight on the Richardson Hitchins vs Jose Zepeda undercard following his time out