According to promoter Eddie Hearn, the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) went for Conor Benn’s (23-0, 14 KOs) soul.
‘The Destroyer’ was formally charged and provisionally suspended by the UKAD for an Article 2.2 violation for the alleged use of a prohibited substance in March 2023. While the NADP lifted the suspension in July 2023, UKAD and BBBOfC appealed the ruling, which led to the reimposition of the provincial suspension. Benn’s ban was finally lifted on November 28, 2024, after an independent NADP panel ruled that they were “not comfortably satisfied” with the charges. Both the UKAD and BBBofC later announced that they would not appeal the ruling.
Hearn, on the other hand, expressed his displeasure with both organizations, which he accused of trying to destroy Benn’s career.
iFLTV’s Kugan Cassius recently caught up with Hearn, where he asked him about the UKAD’s decision not to appeal the ruling.
“I think the time has come to move on,” Hearn responded. “You’re never really going to change anybody’s mind. Some people are stubborn. Some people have an agenda. Some people don’t like people. But, having gone through all these processes that you so desperately wanted him to go through and winning. And I still want to make one thing clear: no backdated ban, no find, no decision on jurisdiction, all these things that naysayers keep saying. No, he’s never been banned; he’s never had a fine. He’s never served a backdated ban.”
Hearn further mentioned that Benn won his case and was exonerated. Which, in turn, should earn him the respect of going through the due processes and winning, not once, but three times. He pressed that it was time for people to move away from this controversy and that he was not going to publicly accuse those individuals who refused to give Benn any credit through the battle to clear his name.
“I’m not looking for an apology. But you gave me a load of sh*t. And you tried to take that young man’s soul,” he said. “As it says in the Bible, Romans 8:18, the pain of what you’re feeling is nothing when compared to the joy that is coming.”
“The Options Are Endless”
Meanwhile, Hearn has big plans for Benn. Talking at the recent Jaron Ennis pre-fight press conference, he even hinted at a potential world title run for the fighter. “You know, he’s probably one of the most talked about fighters in the world and has been for two years, even with just a couple of warm-up fights. Yesterday, he got fully cleared by the NADP. He’ll be here in Philly, of course, to watch the great Boots Ennis as well. The options are endless,” he said.
“You know, he could take a straight shot at the world welterweight championship.”
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