The Complete

Benn / Garcia Anti-Doping Connection!

(September 17th) Conor Benn's anti-doping controversy began during the build-up to his scheduled October 2022 fight with Chris Eubank Jr., when two Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) tests returned adverse analytical findings for clomifene, a substance prohibited under anti-doping rules. The samples were collected on July 25 and September 1, 2022. Benn subsequently acknowledged the two adverse VADA findings, triggering proceedings involving the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), the World Boxing Council (WBC), and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).

The first adverse finding became public in October 2022, days before Benn was scheduled to meet Eubank Jr. at London's O2 Arena on October 8. The BBBofC ruled the contest could not proceed, and the bout was cancelled. The findings came through VADA testing rather than a UKAD test, but because Benn competed under BBBofC jurisdiction, the matter fell subject to further regulatory scrutiny.

In February 2023, the WBC concluded its separate review, stating it had found no conclusive evidence that Benn intentionally ingested clomifene and accepting his explanation involving unusually high egg consumption as plausible. This WBC review was distinct from UKAD's subsequent, formal results-management process.

UKAD provisionally suspended Benn on March 15, 2023, and formally charged him on April 3 with an alleged anti-doping-rule violation under Article 2.2 concerning the alleged use of clomifene — an allegation, not a final determination, pending independent adjudication.

The case moved through several stages of review and appeal. An initial National Anti-Doping Panel decision in 2023 lifted Benn's provisional suspension. UKAD and the BBBofC appealed, and the suspension was reinstated effective May 7, 2024, while proceedings continued.

On November 6, 2024, the National Anti-Doping Panel ruled that it was "not comfortably satisfied" UKAD had established the alleged violation. Benn's suspension was lifted and the charge dismissed. The panel did not find that the two VADA adverse findings had never occurred — only that UKAD had not proved the violation to the required standard. On November 28, 2024, UKAD announced it would not appeal, noting that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) retained a separate right of appeal.

Benn returned two adverse VADA findings for clomifene in 2022, contributing to the Eubank Jr. fight's cancellation; UKAD charged him under Article 2.2 and provisionally suspended him; and in November 2024, an independent panel dismissed the charge after finding UKAD had not met its burden of proof, a ruling UKAD chose not to appeal.

The controversy followed Benn into his September 12, 2026 world-title challenge against Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Benn's first world-title opportunity.

Garcia entered with his own anti-doping history, having tested positive for ostarine following his April 2024 fight with Devin Haney; that result was changed to a no-contest, and the New York State Athletic Commission suspended him for one year. Ahead of the bout, Benn said he knew both fighters were being "diligently tested."

Garcia stopped Benn by second-round TKO. A right hand dropped Benn roughly 45 seconds into the round, and after he rose but could not get off the ropes, referee Thomas Taylor halted the contest at 1:25, with Garcia landing a closing flurry. It was the first stoppage loss of Benn's career (falling to 25-2) and Garcia's first defense of the WBC title he'd won in February (improving to 26-2). Benn was taken to hospital afterward as a precaution. No new adverse drug-test finding involving either fighter has been reported in connection with the bout.

Benn was taken to hospital afterward as a precaution. To be clear, NO new adverse drug-test finding involving either fighter has been reported in connection with the bout, the doping history in play was the pre-existing record on both sides, not a new failed test."