Boxing: Tyson Fury one step closer to being back in the ring with suspension over

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has not fought since November 2015. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS) - Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is set to resume his career after the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) lifted his suspension subject to medical clearance.

The BBBC had suspended the 29-year-old's licence in 2016, citing anti-doping and medical issues, and he has not fought since beating the now retired Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to claim the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) world titles in November 2015.

Fury accepted a backdated two-year doping ban last December and this month announced that he was applying to have his licence reinstated.

"Following an interview with Tyson Fury at the British Boxing Board of Control offices earlier today, the suspension of his British Boxing Board of Control boxer's licence will be lifted subject to receipt and clearance of all medical requirements," the BBBC said on its website.

When Fury was suspended, the BBBC pointed to concern about his health after he admitted using cocaine to help him cope with depression.

Since then, the boxer has frequently given mixed messages about his intentions, announcing his retirement and then claiming he intends to regain his title.

Fury has split with his trainer, his uncle Peter Fury, and will now team up with Ben Davison, whose first task will be to oversee the boxer's fitness regime after recent pictures posted on social media showed him to be bloated.

On Thursday (Jan 18), Fury posted on social media: "Working really hard and putting in the sacrifice needed to achieve glory. Along with the sunshine, there has to be a little rain sometimes! There will be no victory without pain."

Fury has previously scheduled his possible return for April, by when IBF and WBA champion Anthony Joshua will have met WBO title-holder Joseph Parker in a unification bout.

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