The British Should Lay Off Conor Benn, The Doping Drama Is Over
By Isaac Nyamungu
Barely a few days before the duo was due to clash in 2022, it occurred that Benn had failed two voluntary drug tests for the female fertility drug clomifene.
Benn, 28, went down after Chris Eubank Jr. savored the biggest win of his professional boxing career by unanimous verdict at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April.
Advertisement
'I think inactivity played a big part. It's quite hard because the past two-and-a-half years, what had gone on, not fighting back here to then coming home to this, it took me back. It did take me back,' said Benn in a post-fight presser.
Benn surrendered his British boxing license after the positive tests and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) deferred him in March 2023, though he maintained he was still free to box outside of the UK.
'In a good way and in a bad way. I was sitting there going 'oh my gosh, this is unbelievable'. And then in the same breath... There were just a lot of new first times for me today, first stadium fight, first time fighting back here in three years, first fight at 160," he said in a post-fight interview.
Benn's innocence has been contested and doubted for two-and-a-half years, and now former world champion Froch says the British public should leave him alone and put the matter under the carpet.
'I'm hoping that the British fans have accepted that the position he's in now with the drug testing issues and can put it behind him. It's all old news, it's boring now for me. And there are many fighters before Conor Benn that failed drug tests that have gone on to win world titles and become massive legends and become Hall of Famers. So just leave Conor Benn alone, shut the f*** up about his drug test, and let him get on with his career. Let it go now,' said ex-World Champion Carl Froch in an exclusive interview with PokerStrategy.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Turner recalled for Scotland's summer Pacific Tour
George Turner is recalled by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend for their summer Pacific Tour after a year out while playing in Japan. But there is no place in the 36-man party to face the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa for fellow hooker Dave Cherry and Ali Price, who are both leaving Edinburgh this summer, and experienced lock Jonny Gray. Advertisement Glasgow Warriors number eight Jack Dempsey, Edinburgh flanker Luke Crosbie and centre Mosese Tuipulotu all miss out through injury. Warriors prop Fin Richardson is called up for the first time to a squad minus seven players involved with the British and Irish Lions. Bath fly-half Finn Russell, who was co-captain for the Six Nations, is one of those absentees, so Glasgow flanker Rory Darge is named as skipper on his own this time. Uncapped Soyaux Angouleme XV Charente number eight Alex Masibaka and Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke, who were in this season's Six Nations squad without playing, are included. Advertisement Saracens forward Andy Onyeama-Christie and Glasgow lock Max Williamson return after missing the Six Nations through injury. Glasgow forward Matt Fagerson has been selected as he continues his recovery from injury. Turner has not played for Scotland since leaving Warriors for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan, but the 32-year-old could now add to his 45 caps after signing for Harlequins for next season. The 34-year-old Cherry, who was Scotland's first-choice hooker for the Six Nations, is leaving Edinburgh to join Vannes, while 31-year-old scrum-half Price is joining French rivals Montpellier. Scotland's Pacific Tour squad Backs Fergus Burke (Saracens), Matt Currie (Edinburgh), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Redpath (Bath), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Harry Paterson (Edinburgh), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), Ben White (Toulon). Advertisement Forwards Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh) ,Josh Bayliss (Bath), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Darge, capt (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers), Alec Hepburn (Scarlets), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Alexander Masibaka –Soyaux Angouleme XV (Charente), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh), Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens), Fin Richardson (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh), George Turner (Kobelco Kobe Steelers), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors). Related internet links
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Katie Boulter battles back for hard-fought first-round victory at Queen's
Katie Boulter battled back to beat Australia's Ajla Tomljanović and secure a hard-fought first round victory at Queen's. The Leicestershire star and British No.1 clinched a 7-6 1-6 6-4 win over the qualifier to reach the second round of the LTA's HSBC Championships. Advertisement Boulter, 28, took the lead in a thrilling first set battle before a difficult second saw Tomljanović brush the Brit aside and win seven games in a row to force a decider. It was a tough take for Boulter who admitted that she was proud in her ability to bounce back in the toughest moments. "I knew it was going to be a really tough battle, she's someone who has a lot of credibility on these courts," she said. "She's such a tough competitor and I thought she played really well and was very competitive which made it tough for me. "It was difficult for me to get steps in since the ball was coming so quickly but I think I did so well to stay mentally strong. "Sometimes these wins are the biggest ones as they are the ones that give you the confidence." Advertisement It was a topsy-turvy match from the start for Boulter who was immediately broken by Tomljanović before enacting revenge and winning three games in a row to put herself on top. Tomljanović soon levelled the scores in what became a recurring tale throughout the first set as Boulter pulled ahead and the Australian battled to keep things equal. It led to a thrilling tie-break to decide the opener, with the two going toe-to-toe on points before Boulter took the lead and secured the set 7-4 with a clinical backhand winner. It was soon clear that the duo would go to a third set decider as Tomljanović jumped on a series of service errors by Boulter and took the lead, winning a stunning seven games in a row. Advertisement Boulter returned the favour early in the third and broke Tomljanović twice in a much-needed burst of confidence. And having looked down and out just half an hour earlier, it all came down to a battle of mental strength in the end as Boulter completed the comeback and secured her place in the second round. "I actually think she returned extremely well today," she said. "She's one of the better returners and that's why she makes it so hard on these courts. She barely gave me any room, I had to basically do a perfect serve to really get anything from it. So there's a lot of credit to her there as she put a lot of pressure on me as the server. Advertisement "At times I missed a few too many first serves and lost my rhythm a little bit," she said. "I think I'll practice that tomorrow but I'm very happy with a win today." For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Man City signs Reijnders from AC Milan to complete $150M spending spree
Manchester City concluded a $150 million spending spree ahead of the Club World Cup by announcing the signing of Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Reijnders moved for an initial fee of 55 million euros ($63 million) and is the second midfielder — after France playmaker Rayan Cherki — to join City in the special June 1-10 transfer window created to allow sides in the 32-team Club World Cup to reshape their squads. City paid Lyon $41 million for Cherki and also signed Algeria left back Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolverhampton for $42 million. After deciding not to push to sign Florian Wirtz — the Germany playmaker is close to joining Liverpool, according to reports in the British media — City has spent around the same amount on three players. Add this latest splurge to an outlay of more than $200 million in the winter transfer window and City has already spent at least $350 million on players in 2025 to provide manager Pep Guardiola with a squad capable of reclaiming the Premier League title from Liverpool. Breakthrough season Reijnders has just been named as the best midfielder in Serie A after a breakthrough campaign in which he scored 15 goals and added five assists across all competitions for Milan, which endured a dismal season and failed to qualify for Europe. He joined Milan from AZ Alkmaar in 2023 for a fee of around 20 million euros (then $22.4 million) and recently signed a contract extension through to June 2030. That's the length of his contract at City, too. City is releasing De Bruyne to end his 10-year stint at the club and now has Reijnders and Cherki to link up with Rodri in an enticing midfield set-up. Reijnders said he was 'ecstatic' to be joining City. 'It is also a dream come true to play in the Premier League,' he said. 'This league has seen many of the best Dutch players perform through the years and it's an inspiration to follow in their footsteps.' City director of football Hugo Viana said Reijnders — who specializes in being a ball-carrying midfielder — will add 'extra energy, composure and creativity to our midfield.' City announced the transfer of Reijnders a day after the special transfer window closed but appears to have signed him in time for him to play in the new-look, 32-team Club World Cup, which starts on Saturday. City is in the same group as Juventus, Al Ain and Wydad Casablanca and its first match is on June 18. ___ AP soccer:
