Tyson Fury is facing fresh questions about his boxing future on Friday as his promoters refused to comment on reports the world heavyweight champion has tested positive for cocaine.
A spokesman for Hennessy Sports declined to discuss the claims, which originally came from ESPN. When contacted by Press Association Sport, the spokesman said the Fury camp would not be making a statement.
The US-based sports broadcaster reported Fury tested positive after giving a urine sample on 22 September.
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.
One attempt at a rematch had already been abandoned because of an ankle injury sustained by Fury, and his management cited medical reasons behind the latest cancellation, in an announcement on 23 September.
A source close to the planned 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.
ESPN reported Fury was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which is based in Las Vegas, as part of the routine agreed by both fighters before the fight.
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.
ESPN reported it had seen 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.
Providing the test was taken on an out-of-competition basis, Fury stands to face no sanctions such as a ban. Cocaine, while being an illegal Class A drug, is not banned out of competition.
It remains to be seen whether he loses his belts, having failed to make a title defence this year.
After Fury's first attempt at a rematch was abandoned due to injury it then emerged that UK-Anti Doping had charged the champion over a urine sample taken in February 2015, and his cousin Hughie with a doping offence.
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.
Fury failed to show for a 12 September press conference to promote his rematch with Klitschko as his camp said his car had broken down.
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: "Our priority for Tyson is that he's 100% in a happy place. When he is the guy is dangerous.
"I don't want to see him step one foot in that ring until I've got a 100% 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 "at an all-time low" and almost "at breaking point".
"He is seeking help....basically nothing means anything," Peter Fury said.
"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."
