Unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson Fury faces UK Anti-Doping charge

Tyson Fury is to face a UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) charge alleging the presence of a banned substance in his system. Ukad has revealed the British world heavyweight champion was provisionally suspended in June, although that has since been lifted pending a hearing.

Fury, 27, announced on Tuesday (3 August) he would sue the organisation over allegations he used a performance-enhancing substance, which was reported by the Sunday Mirror on 26 June. Traces of the banned substance nandrolone were allegedly found in a urine sample Fury gave in February 2015.

Fury has strongly denied the claim, with his legal team saying the result of tests from March and May 2015 were contradictory. However, Ukad has now lifted the lid on the situation. "UK Anti-Doping can confirm that [Fury was] charged on 24 June, 2016 with presence of a prohibited substance," a spokeswoman said in a statement.

Fury, who beat Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in November last year, pulled out of a much-discussed rematch against the former champion on 24 June, citing an ankle injury. The Ukad charges against Fury will be considered at a hearing of the independent National Anti-Doping Panela.

Fury's cousin Hughie has also been charged, but he too has denied the allegations. Fury is scheduled to take on Klitschko, 40, at the Manchester Arena on 29 October.