London - Controversial British heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury denied claims made in a Sunday newspaper he had failed a doping test last year.
The Sunday Mirror had alleged that Fury -- who won the belt in an upset defeat of Wladimir Klitschko last November -- had returned a sample with a banned steroid in it.
"We are baffled by today's story in the Sunday Mirror," read a statement from his promoter Hennessy Sports.
"Tyson Fury absolutely denies any allegation of doping. He looks forward to recovering from his injury and defending his titles against Wladimir Klitschko in October."
The allegation comes only two days after the 27-year-old -- who sparked a furore with sexist remarks about women made last year -- announced he would not be able to defend the WBA, WBO and IBO belts in a rematch with Klitschko in July after injuring his ankle during a run.
The Mirror claimed that banned steroid nandrolone -- which aids muscle growth -- had been discovered in a test he underwent either in February or March last year well before his win over the ageing Klitschko.
According to the paper his cousin, also a boxer, failed a test for the same substance, although he also denied any wrongdoing.