England’s heavyweight champ boxer’s reign set to end

Tyson Fury’s reign as heavyweight world champion set to come to an end after revelations he failed a drugs test before Wladimir Klitschko rematch

By JEFF POWELL FOR MAILONLINE

Tyson Fury gave a positive drugs test for cocaine earlier this month
Heavyweight world champion pulled out of title fight with Wladimir Klitschko, scheduled for October 29
It was claimed that Fury was ‘medically unfit’ for the contest
A positive drugs test could mean Fury being stripped of his belts

Tyson Fury’s career and reputation were thrown into even darker jeopardy as word came that he has failed another drugs test.

This time it is for cocaine. That scandalous revelation is bad enough in itself but its coincidental timing with the Gipsy King’s withdrawal from his world heavyweight championship rematch with Wladimir Klitschko is even more damning.

The roof already crumbling above the lofty head of Fury looks to have fallen in on him completely.

This will surely be the final straw which terminates his bizarre reign as world heavyweight champion.

It was always likely that he would be stripped of his remaining titles when he pulled out of his Klitschko obligation yet again.

It is hard to see now how the WBA, WBO and IBO can let him keep their belts.

The positive cocaine test will also arouse suspicions about the claim that he was medically unfit to fight.

A whole host of partners in the rematch – including television stations, the Manchester Arena which had been booked for October 29 and the fans who had invested in non-refundable hotel bookings and travel costs – may even consider seeking financial compensation.

Klitschko has been the most inconvenienced of all, of course, having had the climax of his own career put on hold for almost a year as well as being required to begin training for the rematch not once but twice.

The Klitschko camp are infuriated, naturally, but concerned also about the damage being done to boxing’s reputation.

This latest disgrace comes as yet another body blow to sport as football reels from the Sam Allardyce explosion and cycling is enmeshed in the furore of the permission given to Sir Bradley Wiggins to take potentially performance enhancing drugs under medical exemption.

‘Call me anything expect Wladimir Klitschko’: Fury mocks opponent

TYSON FURY VS WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO TIMELINE
November 28, 2015: Fury beats Klitschko by unanimous decision in Dusseldorf to win the WBA Super, WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles.

December 8, 2015: Fury is stripped of the IBF title after just 10 days due to Klitschko’s rematch clause in the original contract, which meant the Gypsy King could not face mandatory IBF challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov.

April 8, 2016: After months of negotiations, the rematch is finally set for Manchester Arena on July 9.

June 24, 2016: With a little over two weeks to go before the rematch, Fury pulls out after suffering an ankle injury in training.

July 7, 2016: Fury announced that the rescheduled fight will now take place on October 29 at Manchester Arena.

Sept 7, 2016: The October rematch is officially confirmed.

Sept 12, 2016: Fury misses the final press conference ahead of the fight after claiming his car broke down.

Sept 23, 2016: The fight is postponed for a second time, with Fury deemed ‘medically unfit’ to fight.

Sep 30, 2016: It emerges that Fury was notified on September 22 that his random urine sample had tested positive for cocaine.

Both the heavyweight camps were informed of the test results.

Bernd Boente, the manager of Klitschko, has responded by saying: ‘If this is true, Fury is the most unworthy of all the heavyweight champions.

‘This might explain a lot but for certain this is terrible for boxing. I have to say that Fury must be the most disgraceful heavyweight champion of all time.

‘Don’t forget this comes in a package which also includes his outrageous homophobic and anti-Semitic comments.

‘The wider issue for all of us in the sport is having him holding this position while being caught this way. What kind of an example is he setting to others in the sport and to youngsters all over the world by something like this?

‘We have been involved with many outstanding holders of the most prestigious title in world sport. Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, your own Lennox Lewis were wonderful champions and splendid human beings. This is such a shame.’

Fury, of course, has been increasingly mired in controversy since his extreme religion-based comments which offended many, the gay and women’s rights communities included.

Other outbursts have followed as well as allegations that he failed a drugs test some months prior to his sensational upset of Klitschko in Germany last November.

It may well be that he does have psychological issues and his well-documented bout of depression may have led him to take social drugs.

But it is hard to see now any justifiable excuse for conduct which appears to have let down all those around him, his sport, his distinguished title and, perhaps most sadly of all, an undoubtedly talented giant, himself.

IMAGES:

Tyson Fury could be stripped of his belts after testing positive for cocaine in a drugs test

Fury has been notified that his random urine sample failed a drugs test

On September 23, Fury withdrew from his scheduled rematch against Wladimir Klitschko

ESPN report that Fury was notified on September 22 that he had tested positive for cocaine

Klitschko and Fury spar verbally ahead of what was meant to be the first rematch – on July 9

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3815978/Tyson-Fury-notified-failed-test-cocaine-random-urine-sample-pulling-Wladimir-Klitschko-fight.html