Mike Tyson could be banned if he fails test for drug he claims he might take before Jake Paul fight
Mike Tyson could face a boxing ban if he isn't careful.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion is set to square off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on November 15 in a controversial crossover clash in Arlington, Texas.
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Concerns have been raised about Tyson's health as the 58-year-old prepares to step into the ring with a man 31 years his junior.
Their initial July 20 fight date was postponed after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up which left him medically unfit to compete this summer.
Meanwhile, Tyson recently confessed he was struggling to walk after completing six rounds of sparring.
Tyson previously admitted to smoking weed every day and micro-dosing magic mushrooms to help him recover between sessions ahead of his last fight with Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
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The boxing legend, who owns his own cannabis company, even claimed to be high during the fight itself.
When asked by Jimmy Kimmel if he intends to be high during his bout with Paul, Tyson replied: “I’m gonna be so high off life, yeah."
Kimmel then asked: “Will you be high on marijuana, as well?"
To which, Tyson responded: “That’s a possibility, too."
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The host then remarked: "Oh no my bet is getting lower as we talk."
It is unclear how serious Tyson's statement was but if he does intend to smoke weed before his fight with Paul then he could be banned by the Texas Commission as the drug is on the sanctioning body's list of prohibited substances.
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Lightweight boxing prospect Keyshawn Davis was suspended for 90 days by the Texas Boxing Commission for failing a pre-fight drug test for marijuana ahead of his clash with Nahir Albright last year.
He won the fight via majority decision but the result was overturned to a no-decision as a result of his failed test.
Tyson was able to get away with smoking the herb before his exhibition bout with Jones Jr as the fight was sanctioned by the California Commission, where marijuana use is legalised both medicinally and recreationally.
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Tyson and Jones Jr were subject to VADA drug testing, and both came back clean after the contest.
Per the anti-doping company's official banned substance list, weed is not among the drugs they routinely test for so Tyson's habit didn't cause him any problems.
Other drug testing organisations like USADA still test for the drug during competition so it is highly dependent on who is enlisted to oversee the anti-doping process and whether the Texas Boxing Commission choose to test for marijuana.
Regardless of what he is or isn't taking, Tyson is clearly taking the fight seriously.
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During his interview with Kimmel, he claimed he was training six hours a day.
"I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm," he said.
Kimmel looked shocked as he replied: "Oh no. 11am? So that's six hours straight, or is there a lunch break?"
Tyson admitted there was a small break as a stunned Kimmel gasped: "Oh no."
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