After Conor Benn failed a drug test, the British professional boxing regulating board on Wednesday forbade a catchweight match between Benn and Chris Eubank Jr.
The major fight on Saturday at London’s 02 Arena was “not in the interests of boxing,” according to a statement from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), and all parties had been notified.
Matchroom and Wasserman Boxing, the fight’s promoters, had confirmed that it would still go place.
Benn, whose father Nigel memorably duelled Eubank’s father and namesake thirty years ago, was reported in their joint statement to have “returned an unfavourable analytical test for trace levels of a reproductive medicine.”
The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association conducted the test.
It said that since Benn’s B sample had not yet undergone testing, there could be no definitive rule breach. Additionally, Benn had just passed a test administered by the UK Anti-Doping Agency.
Before the BBBofC made its decision public, the promoters released a statement that said, in part, “Both combatants have obtained medical and legal counsel, are aware of all pertinent facts, and desire to continue with the event this Saturday.”
The matchup between welterweight Benn and super-middleweight Eubank was scheduled to take place at a catchweight of 157 pounds (71kg).
Due to worries about dipping below the weight restriction, Eubank Sr. appealed for the fight to be postponed last month.