Eddie Hearn claims Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn can still go ahead despite BBBofC stance

Eddie Hearn insists Chris Eubank Jr’s fight against Conor Benn can still go ahead despite the British Boxing Board of Control ‘prohibiting’ the bout after the latter failed a drugs test.

Benn returned an ‘adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug’ in a test done by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association which is believed to be clomiphene, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

However, Benn subsequently passed further doping tests conducted by the UK Anti-Doping Agency – the body the BBBofC rely on – and Hearn therefore says the 26-year-old cannot be suspended and should be allowed to fight on Saturday as planned.

Speaking at Wednesday’s live workouts, Hearn told Matchroom’s YouTube channel: ‘I think we’ve just seen the British Boxing Board of Control’s statement, which is pretty straight-forward, and it’s with the lawyers going backwards and forwards right now.

‘Both guys signed up to a multitude of testing for this fight. The UKAD testing – which is obviously the test agency that the British Boxing Board of Control use and are governed by – have all been clear and negative. There was an adverse finding on the VADA test previously, so there’s not been an official doping violation.

‘There’s a process that has to be gone through. Conor Benn is not suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control. Ultimately he can’t be, because he’s passed all the tests from UKAD. But clearly the British Boxing Board of Control will take a position on it. We’ll deal with the lawyers.

‘Both camps have been made aware of course previously to the article coming out about the situation and both camps are prepared to progress with the fight. But ultimately the conversations have to be had with the lawyers and