Tyson Fury caught up in new controversy after cocaine claims

The Fury camp refused to comment on the claims from ESPN, however the World Boxing Organization (WBO) was taking an interest in the allegations involving its world heavyweight champion.

The US-based sports broadcaster reported Fury tested positive after giving a urine sample on September 22.

It said Fury was tested in Lancaster, England by the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), as part of the routine agreed by both fighters before the fight.

Cocaine, while being an illegal Class A drug, is not banned out of competition. Sources have told Press Association Sport the VADA test was taken on an in-competition basis.

A spokesman for Fury's promoter Hennessy Sports declined to discuss the ESPN claims.

Fury had been due to fight Wladimir Klitschko in Manchester on October 29, defending the WBA and WBO heavyweight belts he took off the Ukrainian last November, but that clash was postponed on September 23.

One attempt at a rematch - set for July 9 - had already been shelved because of an ankle injury sustained by Fury.

A source close to the postponed fight told Press Association Sport he had been informed "traces" of cocaine were found in Fury's system. The 28-year-old fighter's camp would not confirm that.

VADA, which states on its website it specialises in testing competitors from boxing and mixed martial arts, said it does not release results of samples unless at an athlete's request when contacted regarding Fury.

WBO president Paco Valcarcel told Press Association Sport his organisation was waiting to see the paperwork involved in the tests before reaching any judgement.

He said: "We have to wait for the British board to notify us of the information they have got regarding the doping tests."

Asked whether Fury risked losing his WBO belt, Valcarcel added: "We don't want to go any further until we receive the medical certification and the results."

ESPN reported details of a letter from VADA president Dr Margaret Goodman that it said was sent to both fighters plus the British Boxing Board of Control and the United States' Association of Boxing Commissions on Thursday.

It stated that the letter read: "This letter is to advise you that the 'A' sample urine specimen number 4006253 collected from Tyson Fury on September 22, 2016 in Lancaster, England through his participation in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) program has been analysed for anabolic agents, diuretics, beta-2 agonists, stimulants and drugs of abuse. The results of the analysis are as follows: Adverse. Urine specimen contains benzoylecgonine.

"Mr Fury has the right to promptly request analysis of the 'B' sample at his expense."

Benzoylecgonine is a metabolite of cocaine.

It remains to be seen whether Fury loses his belts, having failed to make a title defence this year.

After the cancellation of the July 9 fight, it emerged that UK-Anti Doping (UKAD) had charged the champion over a urine sample taken in February 2015, and his cousin Hughie with a doping offence. They deny wrongdoing.

It was alleged the sample - taken nine months before Tyson Fury's defeat of Klitschko - contained traces of the banned substance nandrolone. Fury was provisionally suspended, but that ban has since been lifted, and his legal team said they would be suing UKAD over the allegations. His hearing will be held in November.

Speaking earlier this week, Fury's trainer and uncle Peter Fury said the champion needed time away from boxing, and ruled out a clash with Klitschko this year.

He told BaylorIC TV Boxing Channel: "I don't want to see him step one foot in that ring until I've got a 100 per cent Tyson Fury back, mentally and physically.

"Until that happens the best place is where he is - relaxing at home. It certainly won't be this year now. It'll probably be early next year that he'll be back."

Peter Fury said in a separate interview with iFL TV that his nephew was almost "at breaking point", adding: "He's at an all-time low. I think he's always been a little up and down in the past, a bit volatile, always has been, but never like this."