Share

Fury: Boxing has 'big' doping problem

London - World heavyweight title contender Tyson Fury claimed on Tuesday that boxing has a "big problem" with doping and suggested that the sport should tackle the issue by legalising banned substances.

"I would say boxing's got a big problem with drugs," Fury told BBC Radio 5 Live, ahead of his fight with WBA, WBO and IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko in Duesseldorf on Saturday.

"It doesn't bother me because at the end of the day its determination over drugs any time. If a man wants to pump himself full of drugs, it's only shortening his life isn't it?

"That's why you see a lot of these bodybuilders and weightlifters have heart attacks young because they're pumped up so much and the heart can't take the pressure."

Former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan said recently that any boxers caught doping should be banned for life, but the outspoken Fury believes that it should be accepted in all sport.

"Why don't they just make drugs totally legal in sports, then everybody would be taking drugs, then it would be fully fair then, wouldn't it?" Fury asked.

"If everyone was taking drugs then it would be fairer, I think, because you can't tell me that 99 percent of these sports people aren’t taking drugs when they've got bodies like Greek gods.

"I know because I've trained all my life. I'm fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world. But my body is like jelly. It's a natural body, you see."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
loading... Live
Dolphins 0
Warriors RSA 161/4
loading... Live
Pakistan 151/7
New Zealand 178/7
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
64% - 426 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
36% - 237 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE