Conor Benn didn't spend long at his open workout ahead of this weekend's fight with Chris Eubank Jr amid controversy over his positive drug test.
Benn tested positive during a voluntary drug test for the banned substance clomifene, which is a female fertility drug that can also boost testosterone levels in men, but has since passed UKAD tests. However, the British Boxing Board of Control have declared that they won't be sanctioning the fight, which Matchroom Boxing are appealing.
And the 26-year-old made a brief appearance at his open workout on Wednesday, which took place against a backdrop of uncertainty over the fight's status. However, he didn't stay long and after a brief chat with Matchroom Boxing's YouTube channel he made a two-minute appearance in the ring and proceeded to leave the event.
"I wanted to say this personally," he told host Chris Lloyd. "Obviously you guys have read what the Daily Mail have published about me today and I want you to hear it from me personally rather than reading it in a statement from me and my team; I've not committed any violations and I've not been suspended.
"As far as I'm concerned, the fight is still going ahead. I've spoken to Chris personally and we both want the fight to go ahead. We've both taken medical and legal advice and we want the fight to happen for the fans. I've signed up to every voluntary anti-doping test there is under the sun throughout my whole career.
"All of my UKAD tests have come back negative throughout my whole career, I've never had any issues before. Even in the lead-up to this fight my tests have come up negative so my team will find out why there's been an initial adverse finding in my test and as far as I'm concerned the fight is still going ahead.
"I'm a clean athlete and we'll get to the bottom of this. I just want to thank everyone for their continued support and I'll see you all on Saturday. He [Eubank Jr] fully believes in me and it's not who I am, it's not what I'm about. I'm a professional athlete and he was understanding - we both want the fight to go ahead and as far as we're concerned the fight is going ahead."
Do you think Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn should go ahead? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Eubank Jr disputes this claim, and has said that the pair haven't spoken since the news was released on Wednesday morning. "We haven't spoken since this was announced," he said. "My promoter, his promoter, the British Boxing Board of Control are going to sort it out. I'm ready, I'm clean, I'm 60 per cent. I've been tested all my career and I've been tested more for this fight than ever before.
"I have an app to designate where I'm going to be every single day and they can come and test me unannounced whenever I see fit. I've never failed a test; I've even been tested on holiday. I don't know what's gone on, I've heard the news like you guys have heard the news. All I can do is be a pro and make sure I'm ready to fight. I'm ready and as news unfolds we will deal with it.
"I've prepared, I've done my job, it's now in the hands of the promoter and the governing bodies to make this fight happen; all I can do is be ready. There are concerns but, I can't really say too much. I'm ready, I'm a clean fighter, I've prepared, I've cut the weight and I'm ready to go."
