Tyson Fury
Fury taking action following allegations in Sunday newspaper. Getty

KEY POINTS

  • The Sunday Mirror alleged in June Tyson and Hughie Fury were being investigated.
  • Report suggested both fighters had tested positive for nandrolone.

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is suing the UK Anti-Doping [UKAD] over allegations he was using performance-enhancing drugs.

Fury and his promoter Hennessey vehemently denied "baffling" allegations of doping when The Sunday Mirror alleged on 26 June traces of banned anabolic steroid nandrolone were found in a urine sample collected from the fighter in February 2015.

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The newspaper also claimed Fury's younger cousin Hughie Fury, another undefeated heavyweight, had also been charged by UKAD. The legal team representing the two fighters now suggest leaks from the doping authority directly led to the two being targeted for abuse on social media and have now issued legal proceedings in the High Court.

A statement from lawyer Lewis Power read: "The two boxers strenuously deny taking any performance-enhancing drugs.

"However, during the last five weeks, leaks about these charges have appeared in the press and both boxers have been the targets of continual abusive language on Twitter."

Fury had been scheduled to defend his WBO and WBA heavyweight titles in a rematch against Wladimir Klitschko on 9 July, but an ankle injury forced the 27-year-old to shelve those plans. He will instead take on the 40-year-old Ukrainian at the Manchester Arena on 29 October.