THE ongoing case with former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury could render UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) insolvent, reports say.
Fury is waiting to go before a hearing to face allegations of using performance enhancing substances and has been out of the ring for almost two years. According to BBC Sport the agency is worried that it could face insolvency if Fury were cleared and sued for loss of earnings.
Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and if he had boxed in heavyweight world title fights subsequently he would have made millions.
A spokesperson for UKAD told Boxing News that they could not comment further on an on going case. They did release a statement in September which they will not add to.
“In response to public comments made by Mr Tyson Fury, UK Anti-Doping wishes to clarify the status of the charges it issued against him and Mr Hughie Fury on 24 June 2016,” UKAD said then.
“The proceedings to determine the charges against the athletes are taking place before the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP), which is responsible for adjudicating anti-doping disputes in UK sport. The NADP operates in accordance with its own procedural rules, and it is entirely independent of UK Anti-Doping.
“From the beginning, UK Anti-Doping has pushed for resolution of the charges as quickly as possible and has invested significant resources in trying to achieve this. There are various reasons why, nevertheless, the charges have not yet been heard on the merits. All parties are currently awaiting a ruling from the NADP tribunal on an application made by the athletes to exclude certain evidence. Once that ruling is received, the matter will proceed to a hearing on the merits. UK Anti-Doping is currently pushing for dates to be fixed for that hearing to take place as soon as possible.”
Frank Warren, whose channel BoxNation would have broadcast Fury’s abandoned rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, has previously expressed his outrage with the protracted wait for a hearing. He believes the situation could have avoided if Fury had been dealt with quickly.
It is thought that Fury will finally go before the National Anti-Doping Panel next month.
