Tyson Fury boxing licence to be considered by British board stewards next month

TYSON FURY could have his boxing licence reinstated by the British Boxing Board of Control when its stewards meet in January.

UK Anti-Doping has cleared the 29-year-old heavyweight to return, after an absence of over two years, following his acceptance of a backdated two-year ban over a positive test for a banned steroid.

The former world heavyweight champion, who has denied any wrongdoing, has spoken of his desire to โ€œreclaim the world titles which are rightfully mineโ€ but can only again box with the permission of the BBBC.

The BBBC announced on Wednesday: โ€œTyson Furyโ€™s boxing licence suspension will be considered by the stewards of the board in January.โ€

In a statement they also added that Tysonโ€™s cousin and fellow heavyweight Hughie โ€œhas no outstanding matters with the BBBC at this timeโ€, but general secretary Robert Smith revealed they are yet to hear from the Fury camp.

Before he makes any return, Fury will need to appear before the BBBC so that he can be assessed both physically and mentally.

Smith hopes he can rediscover the condition and abilities that won him the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles from Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, but stressed it should not be overlooked that he had violated UKADโ€™s rules.

โ€œBefore the boxing licence suspension is lifted he would have to appear before the Board,โ€ he told Press Association Sport. โ€œThereโ€™s a number of matters: thereโ€™s his mental health issues, heโ€™s admitted he took cocaine.

โ€œWeโ€™ve got to speak to Mr Fury and his management, which we havenโ€™t done. If they contact us we can hopefully get it wrapped up in January; I presume weโ€™ll be hearing from them shortly. A discussion will take place in January whether we hear from him or not, but the sooner we do, the better for everybody.

โ€œWe (also) have to be satisfied about Tysonโ€™s physical well-being, that he is fit to fight, and thatโ€™s not just medically, thatโ€™s physically as well. Itโ€™s well reported heโ€™s not in physical condition to return straight away, so heโ€™s got a bit of work to do.โ€

The fact that many people continue to consider Fury the lineal champion, given the loss of his titles came through circumstances outside of the ring, means his potential return has been widely encouraged.

Smith, however, stressed that after the Furysโ€™ admission of guilt in the resolution with UKAD, it is important other fighters avoid repeating their mistakes.

โ€œAs a sport we all need to learn something from this,โ€ he said. โ€œItโ€™s quite clear what UKAD had said: they deemed him to have violated their rules. They may deny that but they deem him to have done that, and they have admitted to the sentence.

โ€œAll boxers need to consider any aspect with regards to doping very, very seriously. We hold seminars, three or four over the past four years, and theyโ€™re very poorly attended by boxers. We are very, very serious about anti-doping, and so should they be.

โ€œItโ€™s good news heโ€™s in a position to get back; itโ€™d be great if he can get himself back to what he was.โ€

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