Conor Benn has struggled to come to terms with the fact people will always associate his name with last year’s positive drug tests and revealed how his father slumped into deep depression during the height of his clomifene case.
Benn said that the situation regarding his failed drugs tests made him ‘fall out of love with boxing’ and question whether he should walk away from the professional side of the sport for good.
The 26-year-old also revealed how his father, Nigel – who is a former two-weight-class world champion – slumped into depression during the investigation into his failed drugs tests, claiming he had never seen his dad ‘in such a bad way’.
However, Benn is hoping his experience will help ‘alter the testing that they do for clomifene’ and ‘change the law’ in regards to testing for substances found in food.
Benn cruised to a unanimous-decision points victory over little-known Mexican Rodolfo Orozco on his eagerly-awaited return to boxing in Orlando last month.
Conor Benn (pictured above) has struggled to come to terms with the fact people will always associate his name with last year’s positive drug tests
Traces of clomifene was found in his system ahead of his scheduled bout with Chris Eubank Jr
Benn revealed how his father slumped into deep depression during the height of his case
Although Benn’s 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.
Nevertheless, Benn – who now boasts a professional record of 22-0 (14 knockouts) – resumed his career at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando last month after obtaining a Texas licence.
During an interview with Mail Sport ahead of that bout, Benn spoke about his excitement to get back in the ring and reassert his authority on the division before opening up on toll the clomifene situation has taken on him.
When asked how he felt about the fact people will always associate his name with the adverse finding, Benn said: ‘You know what, it was really hard for me to accept at one stage. I was thinking, I don’t even want to fight. If this is how it’s going to be, I don’t even want to fight.
‘It took my love away from boxing. From everything. The quicker you come to terms with it, the quicker you accept it, this is what it is. If I could change the testing that they do for clomifene, then in the end, it will be have been worth it.
‘I still wanted to work with UKAD, irrelevant of the outside. I am willing to work with them and that goes without saying. I wouldn’t have spent all this money, hundreds of thousands on legal fees and scientists for nothing.
Benn cruised to a unanimous-decision points victory over little-known Mexican Rodolfo Orozco on his eagerly-awaited return to boxing in Orlando last month
‘So, if we can change the law on it that would be great. I can’t say it was worth it because it was so hard what I went through. But, I would feel better about the situations. That something good had come from this.’
Benn – who previously admitted to having suicidal thoughts after his career was thrown into jeopardy – went on to speak about the impact the situation has had on his family.
The 26-year-old said: ‘It definitely took it’s toll on my family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad so depressed. I have never seen him in such a bad way. It’s been a tough time. Then there’s Tony, Eddie, everyone’s been getting heat for the past year for this.
‘It was no fault of anyone’s, it was just a situation that happened and there was nothing we could do to stop the situation from happening. Could we have dealt with the situation better? Yeah we could have but you live and you learn. That’s that. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so here we are.’