Why have Fury and AJ not been subject to the same drug testing protocols? Could this prevent the fight from happening?
A few days ago, what we thought was the final obstacle to the super fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, was removed. The dispute over location had raged on for weeks, with team AJ insisting the match goes ahead in the UK, as per the contract they'd signed, while Dana White said that he and his Saudi partners who are bankrolling the contest, wanted it in the US.
Even though we still haven't had an official announcement, it's now all but certain that AJ and Hearn have got their way, with the fight heading for the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
But a social media post from AJ has revealed that he's been made aware of another issue with the match that is potentially far more serious.
AJ leaked some correspondence from the American sports anti-doping body, VADA in which they asked for the whereabouts of Tyson Fury, and when he was going to enrol in their testing programme. They said it was unusual for both combatants not to enrol at he same time.
AJ said he wasn't accusing Fury of any wrongdoing, and neither was his promoter Eddie Hearn, in his subsequent remarks on the development.
The problem stems from the peculiar Saudi approach to negotiations. They prefer to strike private and separate deals with each boxer. It appears that there are major discrepancies between AJ's and Fury's contract, beyond the different sums of money that each man will be paid.
AJ's contract stipulated a venue while Fury's did not. And more worryingly, AJ's had a clause requiring drug testing to commence from the day the contract was signed, while Fury's did not.
This is particularly concerning given Tyson Fury's history. He was tested positive for the PED, Nandrolone and received a back-dated two year ban in 2017. Fury claimed the adverse finding was the result of some contaminated wild boar meat that both he and his cousin, Hughie had eaten.
Again, no-one is accusing Fury of anything, but how can it be acceptable that two men about to box each other are subject to different testing standards?
Internet rumour mongers say that the Saudi sports mogul, Turki Al-Sheikh has always had a soft spot for Tyson Fury, and grants him preferential treatment accordingly. But the Saudis will want a good clean fight as much as anyone.
Eddie Hearn said that both he and AJ's main issue was the location, and that they were both willing to let this new issue slide.
But with only about three months to go before the fight takes place, it's important that Fury enrols on the testing programme as soon as possible.
