Michigan To Review Tyson's License

DETROIT (AP) â€” Mike Tyson's boxing license is under review, reportedly for a drug test before last year's bout with Andrew Golota in Auburn Hills. <br><br>The nine members of the Michigan Athletic

Tuesday, January 16th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DETROIT (AP) â€” Mike Tyson's boxing license is under review, reportedly for a drug test before last year's bout with Andrew Golota in Auburn Hills.

The nine members of the Michigan Athletic Board of Control were to meet Tuesday in Detroit to vote on whether the former heavyweight champion can keep his license.

Kathleen Wilbur, director of the state Department of Consumer and Industry Services â€” which oversees the board â€” confirmed that her department called the special meeting of the board. However, she refused to divulge the reason.

David Sebastian, board chairman of the governing body, said in The Detroit News on Tuesday that the violations investigated by the state involved Tyson's urine test before the Oct. 20 fight. Golota quit before third round of the bout.

Sebastian declined to be more specific because he said other members of the commission hadn't seen the state's report on Monday.

He told the newspaper that urine samples are usually taken from both fighters just before a fight and are tested for alcohol or drugs.

``Mike Tyson and the state of Michigan have worked expeditiously to amicably resolve rules violations,'' Sebastian said. ``Both sides hope the state boxing commission accepts the agreement.''

Possible penalties available to state regulators and the boxing commission include a license suspension, fine or a change in the result of the bout.

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

The board's investigation into Tyson's medications use â€” accompanied by assurances that he would not discontinue his medication before the Golota bout, as he had in the past â€” paved the way for his license to box in Michigan.

By Michigan law, Tyson's day-of-fight drug screen would have come from a prefight urine sample. Boxers are not screened again after fighting.

Tyson angrily left the ring and the arena after Golota quit in what Tyson had said would be his last fight. Golota exited the ring to boos and a shower of soda and beer. He was roundly criticized, but upon returning to Chicago he was admitted to a hospital, where he was treated for what a doctor said was a fractured cheekbone, a concussion and herniated disc.