LONDON • Embattled world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury appeared to make light of reports that he had tested positive for cocaine in a Twitter post on Saturday.

His camp has yet to comment on the report by ESPN, but the Briton tweeted a picture of Tony Montana, played by Al Pacino in the film Scarface, sitting at a table with a pile of cocaine in front of him.

The 28-year-old imposed his own face onto the picture, which he captioned "#Tysonmontana", and changed his Twitter name to "TONYMONTANA".

American media outlet ESPN reported that he had tested positive after providing a urine sample to Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) in Lancaster, England on Sept 22.

Fury had been preparing for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, which has now been cancelled.

Cocaine, while an illegal drug, is not banned in boxing if taken out of competition.

Fury was due to fight Klitschko in Manchester on Oct 29, almost a year after winning the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation belts against the Ukrainian last November.

Fury, the self-styled "Gypsy King", also won the International Boxing Federation belt in that fight, but had to forfeit it after failing to fulfil a mandatory bout.

A previously scheduled rematch, set for July 9, was scrapped after he suffered an ankle injury.

Reports suggest that he could be stripped of his belts owing to his lack of activity.

Following the cancellation of the July 9 fight, it emerged that UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) had charged Fury and his cousin, Hughie, with a doping offence. They deny wrongdoing.

The sample, taken nine months prior to Fury's sensational victory over Klitschko, contained traces of the banned substance nandrolone, an anabolic steroid.

Fury was provisionally suspended, but his ban has since been lifted. He is due to face a hearing next month.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE