Fansided

Tyson Fury’s boxing license has been suspended by BBBofC

By Zachary Alapi

COLOGNE, GERMANY - APRIL 28: Tyson Fury looks on during Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko head to head press conference on April 28, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. Fury v Klitschko Part 2 will take place in Manchester on July 9 for the WBO, WBA and IBO heavyweight belts. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Bongarts/Getty Images)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - APRIL 28: Tyson Fury looks on during Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko head to head press conference on April 28, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. Fury v Klitschko Part 2 will take place in Manchester on July 9 for the WBO, WBA and IBO heavyweight belts. (Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
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Tyson Fury has had his boxing license suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control in an expected development. This is the latest in a series of troubling events for Fury, who in less than a year has gone from heavyweight champion to embattled public figure.

ESPN.com’s Nick Parkinson is reporting that the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has suspended Tyson Fury’s boxing license in light of a “pending” investigation into “anti-doping and medical issues.”

Fury’s recent downward spiral has unfortunately played out in the media, creating a circus that has only enhanced the now-former heavyweight champion’s polarizing nature. Many were critical of Fury’s multiple postponements of his rematch against Wladimir Klitschko, which left the heavyweight division in flux and made one question Fury’s commitment to the sport.

It became clear, though, that Tyson Fury’s issues and personal demons extended well beyond a suspect approach to training when news broke that he had tested positive for traces of nandrolone and then cocaine, which he discussed in an explosive interview with Rolling Stone.

In the Rolling Stone exclusive, Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) candidly delved into his struggles with substance abuse and depression, emphasizing the discrimination he is constantly subjected to due to his Irish Traveller heritage. This latter point, particularly, is an issue Fury feels is hardly taken seriously by fans and media alike.

BBBofC general secretary Robert Smith told Parkinson the following about the status of the investigation:

"“We have to wait to see what the investigation turns up and at the moment he doesn’t have a licence so can’t box,” Smith told ESPN on Thursday. “He’s being dealt with by UKAD so we will have to see what happens there and with regard to medical documentation, we have had medical documents from him.“We are in no hurry. His statements [on mental health] have already been considered because his licence has already been suspended. At some point we may have to have a hearing with Tyson. There are a few other things going on with regard to this matter as well.”"

Now that Tyson Fury has vacated his WBA and WBO titles (he had been previously stripped of the IBF title, which countryman Anthony Joshua went on to win), two important courses of action can take place: Fury can seek the treatment he needs and look to eventually regain his boxing license, and the current crop of somewhat intriguing heavyweights can get down to the business of fighting each other without Fury’s limbo status holding the division hostage.

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Look, it’s easy to dismiss Tyson Fury as a bigot and misogynist based on disturbing comments he’s made, or be generally offended by his brash countenance. But it’s clear he’s wrestling with some very real demons right now, and perhaps the best thing is to let him slip into relative anonymity as he embarks on what would appear to be an arduous recovery process.

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