Conor Benn return thrown into doubt after UKAD provisionally suspended welterweight star last month

Conor Benn was provisionally suspended by UKAD last month over his two failed drug tests for clomifene, throwing his proposed return to the ring this summer into major doubt.

Mail Sport broke the news of Benn’s positive tests on the eve of his eagerly-awaited showdown with Chris Eubank Jnr back in October, which brought their grudge match crashing down at the 11th hour.

After he was cleared of intentional doping earlier this year by the WBC, who put his failed tests down to high consumption of eggs, the welterweight has set his sights on returning to action in the summer, with the legendary Manny Pacquiao and Eubank both touted as potential opponents.

Yet it has since emerged that Benn has been placed under provisional suspension by UKAD, which operates under the strict rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency, meaning any attempts to facilitate his comeback could bring sanctions.

Despite this, Benn remains adamant that he is free to fight on foreign shores after taking to Twitter to blast the British Boxing Board of Control and UKAD. 

Conor Benn was provisionally suspended by UKAD last month over his two failed drug tests

Mail Sport broke the news of Benn’s failed tests on the eve of his clash with Chris Eubank Jnr (left) back in October

Benn remains adamant that he is free to fight on foreign shores despite the suspension

‘I can’t comment on anything to do with UKAD other than to say that I am in touch with them,’ he wrote. 

‘Someone at the BBBoC or UKAD obviously wanted to create a headline unlike the Khan case where it was kept quiet for 14 months but this is nothing new. I remain free to fight outside the UK’. 

Benn is not the only British boxer engulfed in drug controversy right now after it emerged that Amir Khan, referenced in his tweet, failed tests after his defeat against Kell Brook last year.

Khan was able to prove that his positive result for ostarine – a banned bodybuilding drug, was unintentional, meaning he was handed a two-year ban from all sport as opposed to the standard four. 

Benn being placed under UKAD suspension comes as a major blow to Eddie Hearn, who recently told Mail Sport of his desire to rearrange Benn’s cancelled encounter with Eubank. 

Though with Eubank also in talks to avenge his January defeat against Liam Smith, Pacquiao appeared the frontrunner to face Benn this summer. 

‘The two people that are really calling the fight out are Manny Pacquiao and Kell Brook,’ Hearn said. ‘The fight that I like, still, is the Chris Eubank fight, because those two are privately DM’ing each other every day with obscenities at the moment, and that leads to a great promotion.

‘Obviously part of me wants to see that fight after it falling through the last time. So we’ve had a couple of offers for Conor Benn to fight internationally, for me I would prefer Chris Eubank Jr, but we’ll have to see what plays out.’

However, until Benn’s UKAD suspension is lifted, Hearn risks losing his own promoting licence with the British Boxing Board of Control if he plays a part in his return to the ring.

Last month the Matchroom boss confirmed talks were underway to reignite Benn and Eubank’s family rivalry once more in the Middle East, almost 30 years since their legendary fathers last went toe to toe.