The 29 year-old had been linked to fighting Bellew after the Liverpool man takes on David Haye for a second time in the spring, although was found guilty of taking Nandrolone and subsequently handed a two-year backdated ban.
Bellew could now revoke his interest in battling Fury next year due to his staunch views on steroids in the sport.
‘The Bomber’ has long had the notion that all ‘drugs cheats should be banned for life’ and has added to that the fact he’d never want to share the ring with anyone who had previously been caught with adverse findings in their system.
Ruling out clashes with Luis Ortiz and Lucas Browne in the past, Bellew would have a big decision to make should Fury’s team make an official offer if he repeats his win over Haye on May 5.
It would potentially mean Bellew going against his single-minded views and may well be a deal-breaker with Fury now that the one-time heavyweight king has a formal suspension to his name.
Fury will find out in January whether he will be reinstated by the British Boxing Board of Control and hopes to be making a comeback around the same time Bellew trades blows with Haye again at The O2 Arena in London.
Opponents possibly in the frame for Fury’s comeback include Shannon Briggs, Dereck Chisora, Christian Hammer, BJ Flores and former world champion Charles Martin.
A fight against David Price was ruled out by both parties earlier this year but is still deemed an ideal scrap for Fury if there’s a change of heart in the offing.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
