Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has been suspended for three months and fined $5,000 by Michigan state officials for refusing to submit to a pre-fight doping test.

The banishment would be honoured by officials in other states, but will have little impact on the controversial convicted rapist and assailant because he was not planning to fight in the next three months anyway.

There was talk Tyson might soon fight reigning heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, but the British boxer has announced plans for an April 21st fight in Las Vegas against either Ghana's David Izon or US fighter Hasim Rahman.

Tyson did not attend the hearing and had already agreed to the punishment. He is in training to return to the ring despite having said he would retire after defeating Andrew Golota in October.

The Michigan Athletic Board of Control, in addition to the fine and suspension, ordered Tyson to donate $200,000 to various groups. The punishments were imposed by a 6-1 vote with two members absent.

Dissenter Glenn Hirsch argued the fight should not have been staged because of Tyson's refusal to submit to the doping test.

The board was concerned before approving the fight that Tyson be required to take antidepressant medication. Tyson's refusal to take the pre-fight doping test meant they had no way to be sure if he was on his medication for the bout.

Tyson was first taking the drug zoloft and later was switched by doctors to a liquid form of prozac.

The panel had the power to impose a longer suspension and overturn the victory Tyson received when his Polish foe quit before the start of the third round.