...Tyson suspended for three months
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was suspended for three months and fined US$5,000 by state officials on Tuesday for refusing to submit to a pre-fight doping test. The Michigan Athletic Board of Control also ordered Tyson to donate US$200,000 to various groups. The punishments were imposed by a 6-1 vote with two members absent.
The banishment would be honoured by officials in other states, but will have little impact on the controversial convicted rapist and assailant because he was not planning to fight in the next three months anyway.
There was talk Tyson might soon fight reigning heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, but the British boxer has announced plans for an April 21 fight in Las Vegas against either Ghana's David Izon or US fighter Hasim Rahman.
Tyson did not attend the hearing and had already agreed to the punishment.
He is in training to return to the ring despite having said he would retire after defeating Andrew Golota on October 20 in suburban Auburn Hills.
