CONOR BENN's career is back on track after he was CLEARED of any wrongdoing over his pair of failed drug tests.
The British welterweight failed TWO drug tests in the build-up to his axed family grudge match with Chris Eubank Jr last October.
The tests discovered traces of the prohibited fertility drug clomiphene – which can raise testosterone levels in men – in his system.
Benn – the son of British boxing great Nigel -protested his innocence from the get-go, insisting that he'd never intentionally taken the performance-enhancing drug.
And following a near year-long investigation, UK Anti-Doping has exonerated the 26-year-old of intentionally ingesting the substance.
In an emotional statement, Benn said: "Today marks the end of a gruelling 10-month process, during which the WBC had already decided i was innocent of any wrongdoing.
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"After a hearing with the National-Doping Agency Panel and UKAD, I have now been vindicated for the second time.
"Hopefully, the public and various members of the media can now understand why I have maintained my innocence so strongly all the way through.
"The UKAD process has now formally ended, and I remain free to fight."
UKAD's accepting of his explanation for the presence of clomiphene in his system is a weight off the shoulders of Benn – who has had his character questioned by boxing fans and pundits alike.
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He said: "Naturally, I am pleased that I can now put this behind me once and for all.
"As you can imagine, the last 10 months have weighed heavily on me and I am anxious that if this happened to me, it could potentially happen to any honest, dedicated and clean athlete like me.
"I would like to thank my fans that have kept the faith when many have turned against me, as well as my team, Matchroom, my friends and family, sponsors and also my legal team, all of whom have shared a belief in me and a commitment to ensure the correct result being obtained and justice being services.
"Only with the strength of all this support have I been able to continue during this challenging time."
Benn plans to make up for lost time by getting back in the ring as soon as possible.
And SunSport understands a late September return is potentially on the cards for the welterweight prospect.
He said: "I now intend to put this matter behind me and look forward.
" Which begins with fighting as soon as possible so I can remind everyone who I am."
Promoter Eddie Hearn said of Benn's exoneration: "[It's] a massive moment for him, for us.
"It's just been over a year since we learned of these adverse findings and it's been a brutal and painful year of work and belief and decisions to back an individual that we believed in.
"And I can't wait to see him fight.
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"The nightmare, the chapter, is over. And he can get back to his career."
"And I hope everybody can support he fact that he's gone through absolutely every process that was asked of him and he's done it all."
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