Conor Benn gives up boxing licence, criticises the Board of Control

Conor Benn has issued a statement in the wake of giving up his BBBofC British boxing licence. The welterweight, who has won all 21 of his fights under the governance of the British Boxing Board of Control, made the move before a hearing on October 21 upheld "allegations of misconduct”.

Benn had been due to fight Chris Eubank Jr on October 8 at the O2 Arena in London, at a catchweight of 157lbs, before an "adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug”, which turned out to be Clomiphene, showed up in one of ‘The Destroyer’s’ tests by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

The Board of Control prohibited the fight between the pair taking place under their jurisdiction, just three days before it was due to happen, stating that it was "not in the interests of boxing”.

And the Cardiff-based organisation, whose general secretary is Robert W. Smith, went on to confirm that Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) “voluntarily relinquished his licence” on the morning of the hearing.

"In accordance with its Rules and Regulations, the Board determined the allegations following the hearing at which Mr. Benn was legally represented,” a statement, released by the Board on Wednesday, read. "The allegations of misconduct against Mr. Benn were upheld."

Later, Benn criticised the “unfair and biased” procedure from the Board, stating that the misconduct charge that has been upheld was unconnected to the drugs test result.

"Conor’s focus at this time is solely on clearing his name,” a statement released on the fighter’s social media channels, read. "The [B]oard, however, has made it extremely difficult for Conor to focus on doing that by its conduct of an unfair and biased procedure.
“In such circumstances, Conor decided not to renew his licence (which had lapsed). Conor told the Board that if it did not accept that his licence had lapsed, then he renounces it.
"He strongly refutes the allegation of misconduct (which for the avoidance of doubt is *not* in relation to the VADA issue) and firmly believes that an independent tribunal will reach a wholly different conclusion.
"At an appropriate time, Conor will speak out on this and on the doping allegation, to the extent that he can whilst legal proceedings are ongoing. In the meantime, he reiterates, in no uncertain terms, that he is a clean athlete.”

We have yet to be made aware of any further developments regarding the future career of the 26-year-old, who is the son of former world champion Nigel Benn.