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Fury-Klitschko II subject to VADA testing

Tyson Fury (right) in action against Wladimir Klitschko. Photo credit: Sascha Steinbach/Bongarts
Fighters Network
07
Sep

Fair to say there was a burst of eyebrow-raising this morning, across the world, when word released wide that the Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko sequel has indeed been reset, to October 29, in Manchester, England.

Two weeks prior, the Ukrainian-born sportsman told all that he’d decided their fight should be taken into a courtroom, instead of a ring. The chatty Traveler, he maintained, wasn’t adhering to terms of the contract hashed out to set terms of a rematch to their clash last November, a sub-classic, in which Fury outsmarted the ultra vet.

But things have been smoothed over enough anyway to get the principals to agree to the date and site.

Do we declare that a smooth sail to the finish line is imminent or even likely? Hardly. I’d say some choppy waters could be seen and felt.



One area which could prove to gum up the best laid plans of the men fashioning the re-do could be testing. Fury, THE RING magazine, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion, was accused of failing a PED test administered by the U.K. Anti-Doping organization. The test, showing the presence of the steroid nandrolone, popped red in February 2015, nine months before Fury-Klitschko I. The positive became news on June 24, 16 months after he supplied the specimen. Fury and cousin Hughie, also accused of taking nandrolone, deny ingesting a drug to cheat.

Team Klitschko wants strict testing and both fighters on the same testing wavelength. “We have insisted on VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association), with the cloud hanging over Fury,” Team Klitschko executive Bernd Boente told me.

OK, so has Team Fury agreed to testing performed by VADA?

“Yes, in the contract. Now they have to sign the papers with VADA, like we do too,” Boente said.

So, it looks like some rough waters have been steered through. Here’s hoping the journey keeps proceeding in the same vein.

For the record, HBO will show this heavyweight tussle live, October 29. Fingers will be crossed up till fight night that this best laid plan stays that way.

 

Follow Woods on Twitter @Woodsy1069 and check out his Everlast podcast, “TALKBOX.”

 

 

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