Tyson Hearing Delayed Indefinitely

The timing of a reinstatement hearing for Mike Tyson has been delayed indefinitely by a dispute over the release of a psychiatric evaluation of the former heavyweight champion.

"I know it won't be released until Dr. (Ronald) Schouten's concerns about its confidentiality are addressed," said Georgia Peirce, spokeswoman for Massachusetts General Hospital. "The report will not be released until that issue is resolved."

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) was expected Thursday to set a new date to discuss the lifting of Tyson's suspension. But the commission still had not received results of the evaluation it ordered as a perquisite to reinstatement consideration.

"I don't anticipate getting them today, but I anticipate some kind of lawsuit being filed by Team Tyson," NSAC executive director Marc Ratner said on Thursday.

Although Tyson waived his right to confidentiality at a Sept. 19 hearing, doctors who performed the evaluation in Boston were withholding the results until they were assured its contents would remain confidential.

Doctors who performed Tyson's evaluation in Boston are withholding the results until they are assured its contents will remain confidential. (AP)

Nevada's Open Meeting Law requires any support document used by a public official must be made public, a point NSAC members said was explained to Tyson.

"This was made very clear at the start, and now they're going to tell us they're not releasing it because of confidentiality?" asked commission chairman Dr Elias Ghanem.

"I don't understand that. It's not what was agreed upon. I can't envision why they are doing this."

The chief deputy attorney general for Nevada, Don Haight, said Tyson's attorneys informed him that they plan to file suit in District Court to determine whether the psychiatric report must be made public.

"I cannot set a hearing date until we get the legalities done, and I can't speculate on how long that will take" Ratner said.

The NSAC revoked Tyson's boxing license following the June 1997, bout in which Tyson bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear. Tyson is seeking reinstatement of his boxing license with the commission.

"I certainly look at it as very negative," commission member Luther Mack said of any legal battle to withhold the psychiatric records.

"Frankly, I don't understand what they're doing."

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