Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte have traded verbal jabs before, as recently as last month.
Despite that, the "Gypsy King" says he wouldn't take any pleasure in his fellow Brit being banished from boxing as a result of his failed drug test.
"If it’s a bad one, then he could end up getting banned for life or maybe a 10-year ban or a six-year ban," Fury said during a recent sitdown interview with Ak & Barak on DAZN.
"I hope that it’s not for his sake and for boxing because let’s face it — we need viable dance partners in the division," continued Fury, who has sparred against Whyte in the past. "So, the more competition we have, the better it makes us — this generation of heavyweights."
During the Whyte-Oscar Rivas fight week last month, Whyte's drug test conducted by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) came back positive for the banned steroid dianabol in his A sample. The results of his B sample still await, as does a possible punishment against him.
The Guardian reported that Whyte could face an eight-year ban if the positive results are confirmed.
Whyte has been the mandatory challenger for Deontay Wilder's WBC heavyweight championship, but of course, a possible sanction against the 31-year-old would end that status. Whyte overcame a ninth-round knockdown to defeat Rivas by unanimous decision on July 20.
Meanwhile, Fury faces relatively unknown Otto Wallin on Sept. 14. A win over Wallin and Wilder defeating Luis Ortiz this fall would result in a February rematch between Fury and Wilder. The heavyweight stars battled to a thrilling split draw in December.
You can watch the full second part of Ak & Barak's interview with Fury, in which he gives his prediction for the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Anthony Joshua fight, on DAZN.
The first part of the interview, in which Fury discussed the first Wilder fight, as well as battling his mental health issues, can be watched below.