UK Anti-Doping "could effectively be bankrupted if it loses its legal battle with Tyson Fury," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. UKAD "fears being sued for loss of earnings" by the former world heavyweight champion "were he to be cleared of taking a banned steroid." Fury, who blames his positive test on "eating uncastrated wild boar," has not fought since "stunning Wladimir Klitschko to win the IBF, WBA and WBO crowns almost two years ago amid a long-running dispute with UKAD." The 29-year-old earns "millions of pounds each time he steps into the ring" and any lawsuit could "swallow up the agency's entire annual budget" of around £8M ($10.5M). The financial implications of the Fury case have been discussed by UKAD's board and raised in meetings with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, of which the agency is a non-departmental public body (TELEGRAPH, 11/8). The BBC's Richard Conway reported UKAD is believed to have "sought guidance" from the U.K. government on "whether it will effectively underwrite the case." UKAD and the DCMS both said they were "unable to comment." However, they are reportedly "not of a mind to drop the case, amid concerns over the effect such an action would have on integrity of the anti-doping process." In addition, there are fears it would signal to athletes that it is "possible to draw out proceedings and effectively undermine" the organization charged with maintaining clean sport (BBC, 11/8).
