Tyson Fury admits to taking 'lots of cocaine'

Tyson Fury was facing fresh questions about his boxing future today as his promoters refused to comment on reports he has tested positive for cocaine. Photo / Getty Images.

Tyson Fury has admitted taking 'lots of cocaine' in a lengthy interview that has painted a desperately bleak picture of his current state of mind, with the heavyweight world champion claiming he 'hopes to die every day'.

The 28-year-old's worrying behaviour culminated this week in an announcement of his retirement via Twitter on Monday, followed by a subsequent post that claimed it was a hoax.

Those messages in turn followed the saga of his withdrawal from his October 29 world-title rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, which was postponed after he was declared 'medically unfit' to fight. Reports have since emerged that he also tested positive for cocaine.

The heavyweight initially poked fun at the situation by posting a picture on Twitter of himself edited into a cocaine scene from the film Scarface but he has now admitted to frequent use of the Class A drug, as well heavy drinking binges in the past couple of months when he was meant to be training to fight Klitschko.

More alarmingly, Fury, who has frequently spoken of his battles with depression, has used an interview with Rolling Stone to claim "I don't want to live anymore", in addition to re-airing claims that he has not been given full credit for his shock 2015 win over Klitschko because of his traveller heritage.

He said: "I was a lot happier when I wasn't the world champion because people wasn't giving me as much s***. People wasn't wanting me to do all these bad things so much. Listen I've been pushed to the brink. I can't take no more. I'm in a hospital at the moment. I'm seeing psychiatrists. Everything.

"They say I've got a version of bipolar. I'm a manic depressive. All from what they've done to me. All this s*** through boxing, through taking titles, through writing me off. I beat the best man but I'm still s***.

"I used to love boxing when I was a kid. It was my life. All the way through it was my life. You finally get to where you need to be and it becomes a big mess. And that's it. I hate boxing now. I wouldn't even go across the road to watch a world title fight. That's what it's done to me.

"I don't even want to wake up. I hope I die every day. And that's a bad thing to say when I've got three children and a lovely wife isn't it? But I don't want to live anymore. And if I could take me own life - and I wasn't a Christian - I'd take it in a second. I just hope someone kills me before I kill me self. I'll have to spend eternity in hell.

"I'm in a very bad place at the moment. I don't know whether I'm coming or going. I don't know what's going to happen to me. I don't know if I'm going to see the year out to be honest."

When asked about cocaine use, he said: "I've done a lot of things in my life. I've done lots of cocaine. Lots of it. Why shouldn't I take cocaine? It's my life isn't it? I can do what I want. Yeah, I have done cocaine.

"Plenty of people have done cocaine as well. What the f*** has that got to do with anything? That ain't a performance enhancing drug. Am I not allowed to have a life now as well? Do they want to take my personal life off me too?

"I've not been in a gym for months. I've not been training. I've been going through depression. I just don't want to live anymore, if you know what I'm saying. I've had total enough of it. They've forced me to the breaking edge. Never mind cocaine. I just didn't care. I don't want to live anymore.

"So cocaine is a little minor thing compared to not wanting to live anymore.

"I never took other drugs, ever, in me life. I only started to take cocaine in the last few months."

Fury added that he has not taken cocaine since October 1.

The fighter is set to face a probe from the UK Anti-doping Agency after a sample from 2015 - nine months before he beat Klitschko - is said to have contained traces of the banned substance nandrolone.

Fury is adamant he has never taken performance-enhancing drugs. He said: "I have never ever taken a drug to help me boxing in my life. Never took a performance enhancing drug ever. Never even took an aspirin for a cold. I'm a natural. The only person that can beat me is me."

Where to get help:

• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
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• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• Samaritans 0800 726 666
• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.