https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47415803 Story about a German doctor who got jailed for masterminding/supporting a doping ring. There's a link in the article that takes you to an athlete (skier) who is having a blood transfusion done, apparently when the police dropped in lol.
Yeah that’s fair enough, so that’s why I appreciate Eddie’s statements on “We spend more money on independent anti doping tests/reports aka VADA than any other boxing promotional outfit”. If he hadn’t done VADA testing and pushed for it to be employee fighters under his promotional banner, this fight would have gone ahead. So it’s thanks to Eddie that Connor Benn had been exposed and now it’s down to Benn to explain himself. VADA is complete independent and not required by BBBoC, just an additional (ethical) step for Hearns business.
Sort of but that all falls down when he still wanted to go ahead with the fight though. I know you're playing devil's advocate but the statements Hearn has come out with over the last few years regarding testing paint him in a very bad light in terms of his actions. He says they spend more money but his fighters will only do it when needed ie a WBC ranking. He can't take the moral high ground there either. Hell, Benn refused testing not that long ago so was removed from their rankings.
As far as I'm aware, Matchroom pays for the VADA tests. One of the VADA tests on its own boxer comes back positive. At that point the boxer should be pulled out of the fight pending further investigation which may well clear him again. Alternatively, the promoter is licensed by the Board to promote cards, whilst maintaining certain standards. Ultimately (and it's subject to debate on the rules) the Board removed that right because the promoter didn't meet the standards required. This is clearly the point Matchroom is contesting so we'll see which way it goes. I understand this isn't all crystal clear in terms of rules and regulations but I'm trying to make a case for why a fighter's health is the promoter's responsibility as much as anyone else. That's ultimately what the Matchroom legal argument will be about - whether something being "in the interests of boxing" is the promoter's problem.
It was someone leaking the information to journalist, who then published the information that set in motion the chain of events leading up to the cancelling of the fight. Matchroom may have paid for VADA testing but they chose not to take action until the story broke and the BBBOC said they would not sanction the fight.
It would make a lot of sense if the Board leaked the VADA result. Hearn admitted he'd been given notice the board would be going public, yet somehow the Mail had all the information at the same time.
Fallout from this will be as follows 1-Benn stays out of sight out of mind for a few weeks 2-Matchroom come up with a story and stick with it to the death. IFL/Haye/Hearn/Bellew etc constantly feed said narrative until people believe it’s true, 3-Benn is back out fighting and headlining shows within three months. 4-We will continue to talk about it here forever but it will make no difference. Nothing will change….nothing will happen.
It would be quite something if old Frank slipped enough information to take out Matchroom, even if this article only suggests "open secret" vibes he happened to comment on...
Chris van heedren has alluded that Connor was on something when they fought, but has also said there was testing after the fight, I'll guess benn was juicing before the algeiri and cvh fights.