Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua Drug Testing Deal Was Never Equal

Anthony Joshua was contractually obligated to undergo drug testing immediately upon signing for his fight against Tyson Fury, while Fury faced no such requirement. Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that the testing protocol failed because the contracts for the two fighters did not match. Hearn stated that while Joshua was legally bound to enroll in testing early, Fury's contract did not obligate him to do the same.

The discrepancy arose because mega-fight negotiations often utilize separate promotional agreements rather than a single master contract. This fragmented structure allowed the drug testing enrollment windows to differ between the two camps. Hearn clarified that this was not a case of Fury breaking an agreement, but rather a failure by the contract drafters to establish a single, enforceable standard for both athletes.