British world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is facing a UK Anti-Doping charge over the presence of a banned substance ©Getty Images

British world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is facing a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) charge over the presence of a banned substance. 

It has emerged Fury was provisionally suspended in June, however, that has been lifted pending the 27-year-old’s hearing, UKAD has revealed.

Fury said yesterday he would sue UKAD over allegations he used a performance-enhancing substance.

His cousin Hughie, also a heavyweight boxer, has been charged as well and will have his case heard.

The Sunday Mirror reported in June that Fury was found to have had "unacceptable" levels of the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone in a sample ahead of his world title fight with Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko last year.

He was told by UKAD officials in September that the levels of the steroid had been higher than would normally be produced by the body naturally.

It was also claimed that Hughie Fury had been above the normal natural limit.

Nandrolone has been known to help to increase muscle size, strength and power.

Both boxers have denied the allegations against them with Fury’s legal team saying the result of tests from March and May 2015 were contradictory.

"In response to public comments made by Tyson and Hughie Fury’s representatives, UK Anti-Doping can confirm that both boxers were charged on 24 June 2016 with presence of a prohibited substance," read UKAD's statement released today. 

"Mandatory provisional suspensions were imposed pursuant to Article 7.9.1 of the UK Anti-Doping rules.

"The UK Anti-Doping rules allow athletes to challenge the imposition of a provisional suspension and the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) today lifted the athletes’ suspensions, pending full determination of the charges.

"These charges will be heard at a hearing before the NADP in due course."

Tyson Fury beat Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in November ©Getty Images
Tyson Fury beat Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in November ©Getty Images

Fury announced in June that he was pulling out of a planned rematch with Klitschko, scheduled for last month, saying he had injured his ankle in training.

Yesterday, Fury's legal team said proceedings had been issued in the High Court.

"The two boxers strenuously deny taking any performance-enhancing drugs," said lawyer Lewis Power.

"However, during the last five weeks leaks about these charges have appeared in the press and both boxers have been the targets of continual abusive language on Twitter."

Fury beat Klitschko, 40, in November 2015 to win the WBA and WBO heavyweight titles.