Eddie Hearn spots loophole in BBBoC's latest stance on Conor Benn drug test

Eddie Hearn has spotted a loophole in the British Boxing Board of Control's stance on Conor Benn's drug test.

Last October, just days before his clash with Chris Eubank Jr., 'The Destoyer' tested positive for Clomifene. The substance is banned, as it is typically used to mask prior steroid use. As a result, Benn was suspended by the BBBoC as well as the WBC.

The latter cleared him of positive tests last month, stating that it was due to high consumption of eggs. However, the British Boxing Board of Control has been less than enthused. To date, they've declined to clear Benn, as they've stated that the welterweight and his team haven't shown much evidence.

However, Conor Benn and his team have argued that the BBBoC doesn't have the right to suspend him. The welterweight prospect has gone as far as suing the control board for damage to his career. Benn has stated that the BBBoC didn't have the right to suspend him due to VADA being the one to catch him.

Eddie Hearn also reiterated this point in a recent interview with BoxingSocial. The head of Matchroom Boxing stated:

“That's a rule change… The board wrote to us to tell us they did not acknowledge VADA… At the time of the tests, that was not the rule. That's a new rule, 100%.”

See his comments in the video below:

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Conor Benn drug test: Did the BBBoC make a new rule?

Following Conor Benn's positive test, the BBBoC confirmed they were making a new rule for drug testing.

To this point, VADA, USADA, or any other form of testing wasn't factored in by the British Boxing Board of Control. The athletic commission has its own randomized testing that fighters have to enroll in.

However, many fighters such as 'The Destroyer' had to enroll in two different testing programs. For his scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr. last October, Conor Benn was being tested by both the BBBoC as well as VADA.

As the story goes, the latter got two positive tests from Benn, while the former didn't. Despite VADA tests not being factored in, the welterweight prospect was suspended. In a recent interview with BoxingScene, general secretary Robert Smith discussed a possible new policy due to Benn's situation:

“We do what’s right. You can’t ignore positive tests. Maybe we have to [change]. Once this case is finished maybe we have to change our regulations with regard to that. I think our regulations currently cover it but maybe they need to be tweaked. You can argue against any regulation you want to but we are satisfied that what we’ve done is right.”

See his comments below: