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Victor Conte questions Eddie Hearn’s Hypocrisy

Originally posted on Fights Around The World
By Lucas Ketelle | Last updated Jan 13, 2024 3:43 PM ET

Victor Conte has been involved with drug testing for years.

Famously, he was caught in the BALCO scandal.

In 2011, Conte, fresh out of being released from incarceration, focused on SNAC, or Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning. During his Fighter of the Year run, the San Carlos-based company famously sponsored Nonito Donaire Jr. for year-round drug testing. Daniel Jacobs held camp at SNAC for his Gennadiy Golovkin fight, and Mikey Garcia entrusted Conte and SNAC with moving up two weight classes to fight Errol Spence Jr.

Conte was vocal about the atypical test results of Artur Beterbiev being in the public domain. Most might not know the difference before this week, but Conte explained.

“Here is what we need to put in perspective: on an annual basis, a WADA-accredited testing laboratory has about one percent of adverse analytical findings or [a] positive test,” said Conte. “They also have one percent of these atypical results. So what does that mean? An atypical result. Let’s talk about this [Artur] Beterbiev case where he had an atypical finding for growth hormone and testosterone.”

“Growth hormone testing is done in blood. Testosterone testing is done in urine. They are not done on the same sample type.”

So the big question is how Beterbiev got an atypical test result in camp, with every test before and after showing nothing peculiar. Conte explains.

“There are a lot of different things [that can cause that], such as strenuous exercise. We see these results when we test the boxers on Sunday. They will do heavy squats, and on Monday, their testosterone level will be elevated. So strenuous exercise can elevate both testosterone and growth hormone.”

“Another example would be sleep deprivation. If you don’t get sleep, and this is a stressor on this system, all of a sudden, your adaptive mechanisms kick in. What are growth hormones and testosterone? They are healing and repair. Hormones, that is what they do. So an overtraining syndrome can cause an elevation of growth hormone.”

Conte further questioned Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Callum Smith, who fights Artur Beterbiev, as well as has had his fighter Conor Benn have issues around PEDs. Conte pulled no punches in challenging Hearn to explain if he has ever been aware of an atypical test for one of his fighters before a fight. If so, was it made public knowledge?

Boxing was informed of the 1st + drug test by @conornigel for clomiphene in July 2022 & was made public Sept 2022. It is now January 2024. It's been 16 months since first reported & still no reasonable explanation. Broke system @eddiehearn @Matchroom @vada_testing @ukantidoping

— Victor Conte (@VictorConte) January 13, 2024

“[Eddie Hearn] and Matchroom have had a number of fighters who have had adverse analytical test results or positive test results. I am suggesting it is likely that Eddie Hearn and Matchroom have received atypical test results on some of their fighters.”

“The question is – why is [Eddie Hearn] bringing it up now,” questioned Conte. “A lot of people online seem to think an atypical test is bad news. It is creating all this controversy. Now, I don’t think it is right. The normal protocol is to not come out with atypical findings. My question is, why did Eddie Hearn decide to do this? It is hypocrisy on his part when he has the opposite position with fighter Conor Benn.”

Conte furthered on the Benn Situation.

“When we finally do get a chance to see [Conor Benn’s] supporting evidence, is that going to be pseudo-science or fake science? Which means it is not peer-reviewed by a staff of medical experts to determine that the experimental design used to get these results are valid.”

This article first appeared on Fights Around The World and was syndicated with permission.

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