The British Boxing Board of Control has flattened Tyson Fury's hopes of a quick return to the ring by confirming it will not lift his suspension until his doping case is resolved.
The 28-year-old lost his boxing licence last October, a day after he vacated his IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles citing depression.
However, the Manchester-born fighter had already failed a drugs test in the United States for cocaine and been charged with the use of a prohibited substance by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
With Fury now back in training, UKAD is his most serious opponent, as his National Anti-Doping Panel was postponed earlier this month, with no date set for its resumption.
His promoter Frank Warren has described this delay as "a liberty" and said he hoped either the BBBoC or sports minister Tracey Crouch would intervene.
In theory, the BBBoC could lift his suspension at any time, but it is now clear it will not act until Fury has either been cleared by UKAD or served whatever ban he may receive from the panel.
Fury's position is complicated by revealtions that he refused to give a sample to a doping control officer last year.
Under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, refusing a test is considered the same as a failed test and the starting point for punishing a first-time, intentional offence is a four-year ban.
Clearly, Fury's mental state is a mitigating factor.
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