According to The Guardian and Cricket Exchange, 28-year-old British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has tested positive for cocaine in a urine sample. As a result, his WBA and WBO titles are at risk of being stripped, casting a long shadow over his once-promising career.
Fury admitted in a recent interview that he had indeed used cocaine, claiming it was a desperate attempt to cope with severe depression. “My situation is terrible,” he confessed, revealing he hasn’t stepped into a gym for months and his weight has ballooned to 290 pounds (about 263 kg). In a heartbreaking moment, he added, “I don’t even know if I’ll live to see the end of the year.” In an interview with Rolling Stone, Fury further shared, “I drink every day, Monday to Sunday, and I’ve taken cocaine. I just can’t beat this illness. The only thing that helps is getting myself completely drunk.”
He continued with brutal honesty, saying, “People talk about having split personalities—well, I have manic depression. I’m just hoping someone kills me before I kill myself.” These raw admissions have stunned the sports world, especially as they come from a boxer once hailed as the new face of the heavyweight division. Fury burst onto the scene with natural talent and a towering frame, winning British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles back in 2011.
He also spent time as a sparring partner for Wladimir Klitschko, gaining valuable experience before famously defeating the Ukrainian legend on November 28 of last year. After that victory, the IBF mandated that Fury face Vyacheslav Glazkov, but contractual obligations to a Klitschko rematch made that impossible. Consequently, he was stripped of the IBF title. Since then, his career has been plagued by setbacks—poor scheduling, legal disputes, and even falling out with family over financial matters.
Cricket Exchange notes that Fury’s mental and physical condition has spiraled. “Honestly, I haven’t trained in months. I’m always out drinking. I can’t see a way out, and I don’t even want to live anymore. I look like a pig now—I weigh 290 pounds,” he lamented. Speaking about his cocaine use, Fury said, “I feel like I’m being tormented by demons. I need to go back to church and reconnect with God. I stopped using cocaine a month ago. I just want to be with my family—I’ve got three kids and a beautiful wife. I want a normal life. I don’t want to fight anymore. I never want to step in the ring again.”
Still, conflicting reports have emerged from British media suggesting Fury may have walked back his retirement remarks. However, he is scheduled to attend a special hearing next month with UK Anti-Doping authorities regarding allegations of performance-enhancing drug use.
Cricket Exchange continues to follow Fury’s case closely, as fans and the sporting world anxiously await the outcome—not just for the sake of his career, but for the future of a fighter who once stood on top of the world and now finds himself fighting to stay alive.