Tyson Fury’s Boxing License Suspended Pending Investigation Into Anti-Doping Issues

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) has confirmed that Tyson Fury has lost his boxing license, pending "further investigation into anti-doping and medical issues."

Having already vacated his WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles this week, Fury has said that he is now ready to focus on recovering from what has been described as a severe bout of depression. The Mancunian boxer reportedly tested positive for cocaine in late September, and went on to admit to doing "lots" of the drug in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Fury is also the subject of a UK Anti-Doping investigation, having allegedly tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone earlier this year. He is due to attend a hearing on the matter in November, and has previously denied steroid use.

Since beating Wladimir Klitschko on a unanimous points decision in November 2015, Fury has twice pulled out of a scheduled rematch. He was declared "medically unfit" for the second bout, and several members of his entourage have spoken out about his mental health struggles in the aftermath.

Speaking about his decision to vacate his belts, Fury has said: "I feel that it is only fair and right, and for the good of boxing, to keep the titles active and allow the other contenders to fight for the vacant belts that I proudly won and held as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world, when I defeated the long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko.

"I won the titles in the ring and I believe that they should be lost in the ring, but I'm unable to defend them at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured World titles, and wish the next-in-line contenders all the very best as I now enter another big challenge in my life which I know, like Klitschko, I will conquer."

In their own official statement, Fury's promoter Hennessy Sports added that his decision would "allow him the time and space to fully recover from his present condition without any undue pressure, and with the expert medical attention he requires and his close family's support." While the loss of his boxing license might come as another blow after a turbulent month for Fury, he can at least look to the example of fellow Mancunian Ricky Hatton, who recovered from his own problems with hard drugs and the BBBC to eventually launch a comeback and fight again.