Moroccan Kickboxer Ben Saddik Set for February Comeback After Suspension

The announcement of his return has been confirmed by the organization, which specifies that the former challenger for the world title against Rico Verhoeven will soon be back in competition. For now, the name of his opponent and the exact date of the fight remain unknown.

This year, Ben Saddik has been at the center of several controversies. A positive doping control earned him a suspension that will end in January. He was also sanctioned for a kick given to Verhoeven after the fight opposing the latter to Nabil Khachab on March 9 in Arnhem, a gesture that earned him an additional six-month suspension.

But Ben Saddik’s troubles don’t stop there. The kickboxer is involved in a legal case in the Netherlands where he was sentenced to 40 months in prison for money laundering and fraud. A conviction he has appealed.

As if that weren’t enough, the athlete had to face a major challenge: thyroid cancer that required surgery last spring.