Tyson Fury set to be stripped of boxing licence on Wednesday as heavyweight champion prepares to vacate titles

Fury is alleged to have tested positive for cocaine, and admitted to taking the recreational drug in a recent interview which will be discussed by the British Boxing Board of Control today

Tyson Fury shows off his world titles ahead of his expected decision to vacate the belts (Twitter/@Tyson_Fury)

Tyson Fury is set to be stripped of his boxing licence - paving the way for a world heavyweight title showdown between Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua.

Fury's case will be discussed by the British Boxing Board of Control in a meeting on Wednesday and he is expected to be told he faces an indeterminate spell on the sidelines.

The move comes after Fury reportedly failed a drugs test in the United States then admitted in Rolling Stone magazine that he has "done lots of cocaine".

Such an outcome would lead to Fury's WBA and WBO titles being declared vacant with Klitschko and Joshua close to agreeing a deal for a unification bout on December 10.

Fury pulled out of a scheduled world heavyweight title rematch against Klitschko later this month with his team insisting he is medically unfit to fight due to mental health concerns.

Negotiations are ongoing between Klitschko and Joshua but former champion David Haye believes it is already a done deal, tweeting on Tuesday: "Great to hear Joshua-Klitschko is done. Timing is everything & the time is now perfect for AJ. Reminds me of Ali Vs Berbick".

Fury will not be the first major British fighter to lose his licence due to doping issues.

Ricky Hatton had his licence taken away by the Board in 2010 following widespread allegations about the use of cocaine. It was returned two years later following a personal hearing.

Fury's best hope is to convince the sanctioning bodies to declare him 'champion in recess' - which would allow him to challenge for the titles in the event he returns to the sport.

But his situation is complicated by his reported failed drugs test by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (Vada) in the United States earlier this month.

Vada have refused to make their findings public, and UK Anti-Doping - which is yet to rule on a separate doping issue regarding Fury - has stressed cocaine is not on its own list of banned substances in out-of-competition testing.

PA