Heavyweight Boxing Champ Tyson Fury Tests Positive for Cocaine

When the reports last week spread across the world of boxing that the eagerly-anticipated rematch between reigning heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko had been postponed again, the only reason that was given was that the massive Brit was deemed “medically unfit.”

Now the reason is known: Fury tested positive for cocaine the day before he pulled out of the proposed Oct. 29 showdown (live odds).

According to a report from ESPN.com , Klitschko and Fury agreed to testing overseen by Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). Fury submitted a urine sample on Sep. 22 in Lancaster, England, which came back positive for the banned substance benzoylecgonine, which is the central compound in cocaine.

A letter from Dr. Margaret Goodman, the president of VADA, was sent to the Klitschko and Fury camps, the British Boxing Control Board and the U.S. Association of Boxing Commissions. The letter read, “This letter is to advise you that the 'A' sample urine specimen number 4006253 collected from Tyson Fury on September 22, 2016 in Lancaster, England through his participation in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) program has been analyzed for anabolic agents, diuretics, beta-2 agonists, stimulants and drugs of abuse. The results of the analysis are as follows: Adverse. Urine specimen contains benzoylecgonine… Mr. Fury has the right to promptly request analysis of the 'B' sample at his expense.”

Fury had previously pulled out of the rematch this past June, citing an ankle injury.

It's likely that Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) will face heavy fines and get stripped of the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles he won when he edged Klitschko via decision last November, though no official announcement regarding the punishment has been made.