British world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has been given 10 days to show why he should not be stripped of his WBO belt.
Tyson Fury has had to relinquish the IBF belt he won when he beat Vladimir Klitschko. Photo: Photosport
The World Boxing Organisation issued the deadline this morning in a notice to Fury ordering him to demonstrate why his title "should not be vacated due to inactivity, breach of contract and performance enhancing drugs and stimulants."
Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko as IBF, WBA and WBO world champion by beating the Ukrainian on points last November in Germany, but has since cancelled the rematch twice for medical reasons.
Fury also faces a hearing into a charge for an alleged doping violation.
He was stripped of the IBF title because he refused to fight against a mandatory challenger, but currently still holds the WBO and the WBA titles.
Fury's uncle says the fighter is prepared to relinquish his WBA and WBO belts and could return to training in six months.
"It's driven him to despair," Peter Fury, who is also Tyson's trainer, told the BBC.
The boxer has said he was taking cocaine to help deal with depression.
"I see him being back in the gym in March or April. He'll resume his career," added Fury's uncle.
Earlier this month, Fury tweeted to say boxing was the "saddest thing" he had taken part in and suggested he was retiring from the sport, before retracting his decision a few hours later.
-BBC
