Thursday 23 November 2017 17:08, UK
Tyson Fury’s anti-doping hearing is set to resume in December as his planned return to the ring gathers pace.
Fury has not boxed in two years since winning the world heavyweight championship from Wladimir Klitschko - since then, his boxing license has been stripped and he has been awaiting the resumption of an anti-doping case after being charged with "the presence of a prohibited substance" in June 2016.
"December, that's true," said Robert Smith, the British Boxing Board of Control general secretary, when asked by Sky Sports when Fury's hearing would resume.
The reason why this has taken so long, so I have been led to believe, is because Mr. Fury's legal team could not agree a date for the recommencement of the hearing.
"The reason why this has taken so long, so I have been led to believe, is because Mr Fury's legal team could not agree a date for the recommencement of the hearing. They obviously now have, and the hearing will recommence."
Fury issued a scathing criticism of UKAD in September as he awaited a new date to clear his name, but the organisation responded, saying: "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.
"It is therefore inaccurate to suggest either that UK Anti-Doping is failing to pursue these charges as quickly as possible, or that Mr Tyson Fury and Mr Hughie Fury [who was also charged] are being treated differently to other athletes."
Fury will not be guaranteed a renewed boxing license if he is found not guilty by UKAD, it was confirmed by the BBBofC.
"It is publicly known that Mr. Fury has a number of health issues and we would have to look at that," Smith said.
Fury's desire to fight again in 2018 has been fuelled by footage that he has posted of his return to the gym, and promoter Eddie Hearn has explained his desire to fast-track a blockbuster clash against Anthony Joshua.
"We would like to help him clear up his stuff with UKAD and start building a schedule that will lead to Joshua," Hearn said earlier this month.
UKAD refused to comment on the resumption of Fury's hearing when contacted by Sky Sports.
