Tyson Fury: 'I'm too controversial to win Sports Personality award'

As if to support his own belief about being "too outspoken", the new British heavyweight world champion claimed he was given "good information" that he was targeted by the camp of his rival Wladimir Klitschko, who he outpointed in Germany to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts on Saturday evening.

Speaking at the Macron Stadium in Bolton, Fury intimated that he went without water in his dressing room after the fight despite being dehydrated.

“After the fight, I had it from good sources not to touch anything in the changing room because they might try to drug me,” said Fury.

“People were trying to pass me all sorts of things but unless it came from my own baggage, I wasn’t having it, there was no chance of me getting drugged.

"I went home dehydrated because I was so frightened of being tested and failing the test because they’ve given me something. You can never be too careful."

Fury was named among the 12 personalities for the BBC Sports of the Year award on Monday.

Andy Murray is a 5-4 favourite after helping Britain win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936.

Fury is priced at 15/2 third favourite behind world champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, who is a 13/8 shot.

F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is 14/1, but Fury claims beating Klitschko in Dusseldorf was just as impressive as Murray or Hamilton's achievements.

“I can tell you know that will never happen – so there is no point in me thinking about it," said Fury.

“They won’t let me win it. I am too controversial and outspoken, not good. If I win it I win it and if I don’t I don’t.

"But who, out of all these people, beat Wladimir Klitschko who they said could not be beaten?

"The answer is Tyson ‘Too Fast’ Fury.”