By Elliot Foster

Tyson Fury will NOT return to the ring in the spring.

The former world heavyweight champion, who has been out of the ring since personal problems ruled him out of the rematch against Wladimir Klitschko last October, took to Twitter on Monday to confirm the news that he would be back in action.

Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) said he will snap an 18-month hiatus on May 13, exclusively live on BT Sport and BoxNation, at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.

“[We are] working on an opponent,” Fury wrote on social media, “[with] more news to follow.”

But British Boxing Board of Control general secretary Robert Smith has poured doubt over the 28-year-old’s claim, stating that ‘The Gypsy King’ is still provisionally suspended, pending an investigation into an anti-doping violation of self-confessed cocaine abuse.

“Tyson Fury is suspended,” Smith told talkSPORT on Tuesday. “[He] has a lot of issues he needs to deal with before he even thinks about getting in the ring properly.

“He has an anti-doping issue. He has other medical issues that all have to be considered.

“We haven’t had any contact with him since he was suspended so I would expect, if he was looking to box [again] shortly, he’ll need to contact us [the British Boxing Board of Control].

“He hasn’t done so and therefore nothing has changed.

“He is not in a position to box.”

A hearing with the UK Anti-Doping Agency is pencilled in for next month.

Further details will be revealed in due course.