Tyson License Suspended in Michigan

Tuesday, January 16th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DETROIT (AP) â€” Mike Tyson's boxing license in Michigan was suspended for three months and he was fined $5,000 for refusing to submit to a urine test before his Oct. 20 fight against Andrew Golota.

The decision Tuesday will be honored by at least one important governing body outside Michigan â€” the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

``We will honor any suspension by a sister state,'' said Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada body.

However, the ruling by the Michigan Athletic Board of Control might have little impact because the former heavyweight champion was not planning to fight in the next three months.

The board also required Tyson to make a ``donation'' of $200,000 to organizations later approved by the board.

Tyson did not attend the hearing. His lawyer, Neil Fink, agreed on his client's behalf to abide by the donation and fine. Fink refused comment Tuesday.

Added Tyson adviser Shelly Finkel: ``I have nothing to say.''

The board voted 6-1, with two members not present. The dissenting voter, Glenn Hirsch, could not understand why the fight went forward without Tyson's urine test.

``That fight shouldn't have happened,'' Hirsch said. ``We have to stand our ground someplace ... It's bewildering to me.''

Tyson's last fight was against Golota, who quit before third round of the bout in Auburn Hills. He does not have another bout scheduled and it is highly unlikely he would box again in Michigan.

Before the October bout, Tyson said his fight with Golota would be his last. However, he is back in the gym and training to fight.

David Sebastian, board chairman of the governing body, said urine samples are usually taken from both fighters just before a fight and are tested for alcohol or drugs.

Kathy Wilbur, director of the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, said she did not know why Tyson failed to take the test.

She added that boxing inspectors do not have the authority to stop a bout if a fighter refuses a drug test. She said the department should perhaps re-examine the authority of inspectors but felt the order was just.

``We are sending a message that his bad-boy antics are not sanctioned nor tolerated in Michigan,'' she said.

Board member Andrew Metcalf said that since 1996, 25 boxers have had problems similar to Tyson's â€” four have had their licenses revoked and 17 have had their licenses suspended.

Wilbur also said Michigan officials check a national database to check if a fighter's license has been suspended in any state. If the license has been suspended for medical or drug reasons, Michigan officials will not allow the fighter to enter the ring.

There was debate before the fight about Tyson's use of antidepressants, initially Zoloft and later Prozac.

The board had been assured Tyson would not discontinue his medication, as he had before previous bouts. That paved the way for his boxing license in Michigan.

Tyson angrily left the ring after the fight. Golota exited to boos and a shower of soda and beer. He was widely criticized, but upon returning to Chicago he was admitted to a hospital. He was treated for what a doctor said was a fractured cheekbone, concussion and herniated disc.

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