Joseph Parker tested positive for cocaine on day of Fabio Wardley fight

[stujones]

Just admit you had a few bifters ffs , feine drug addiction like what all celebs do when caught having a line or puff

Tbh I'd rather testers never bothered testing for recreational drugs, concentrate more on peds

I want to agree, except with the ridiculous past bans for recreational drugs I can see why he might wanna go for the muddy the waters, create doubt and denie path…

He should say “I have a cocain problem and am going to rehab” and get a 6 month ban and continue his career….

But if he says that he risks a 4 year ban.

I’d say he does have a bit of a genuine problem if he can’t resist doing Coke in fight week

Yeah, guilty as charged here and I've posted about boxers feigning addiction and played the mental health issues card when caught having a line. Sadly, boxing just buried one who I did post my one time believe that it was "only cos he was caught" and not going to lie - I've felt guilty for thinking it was "just cos you got caught" about - it clearly was very real for him.

So maybe its not ok to assume it is a fake addiction.

[JxhDel.]

Coco is hardly something you can take by mistake or contamination, or because you did not know it was in the air or offered by your environment, what a joke.

Famously, Richard Gasquet, at the time a leading French tennis player, escaped a ban after a positive test for cocaine by blaming it on kissing a woman who’d taken coke that evening

Genius move

[Controversial]

Coco is hardly something you can take by mistake or contamination, or because you did not know it was in the air or offered by your environment, what a joke.

Famously, Richard Gasquet, at the time a leading French tennis player, escaped a ban after a positive test for cocaine by blaming it on kissing a woman who’d taken coke that evening

Genius move

They can tell the difference, maybe it used to be more slack but it would be in his blood so traces from touch or kissing someone wouldn't show up in the same way.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Controversial]

I wasn’t expecting that…

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘Devastated’ Joseph Parker vows to clear his name

Joseph Parker was already attempting to recover from the disappointment of his stoppage defeat by Fabio ley when it was reported that he tested positive on the day of their fight – on October 25 at London’s O2 Arena – for cocaine.

The heavyweight, from New Zealand, potentially faces a two-year ban, regardless of cocaine being classified as a recreational, not performance-enhancing, drug.

He responded to the reports by saying, on social media: “Before my recent fight I took a voluntary test and have now been informed that it returned an adverse result. This came as a real surprise to me.

“I did not take any prohibited substance, I did not use performance enhancing drugs and do not support their use. I am cooperating fully with the process now underway, and I am confident the investigation will clear my name.

“Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support. It means a great deal to me and my family. When the investigation is complete, I will speak openly and answer questions.”

Parker, 33, regardless travelled to the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre to support his friend Jai Opetaia on the occasion of the Australian’s IBF cruiserweight title defence against Huseyin Cinkara. Having watched Opetaia win inside eight rounds, in conversation with Boxing Scene, he then broke his silence.

Boxing Scene: What’s your understanding of the latest regarding your positive drugs test?

Joseph Parker: At the moment, we’re just going through our process. Once we get a better understanding of what’s happening, then things will come up very soon.

How did you feel when you first heard?

I was devastated. You have to do all these voluntary drug tests in camp and then all of a sudden you get a bit of a surprise and shock that you fail on a fight day. So, I’m just gonna go through the process of trying to get it cleared, and I want to be in the ring as soon as possible.

Is this something you’ve discussed with your trainer and your promoter, Andy Lee and Frankkk Warren?

Listen, there’s not really much we can do or say because there’s a bit of a process going on, but I do believe – well, hopefully – we get cleared soon.

What is that process you’re referring to?

There’s a process that you have to deal with VADA [the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association]; you have to deal with UKAD [UK Anti-Doping], and the promoters and everyone that’s involved. It’s a process that everyone has to follow in order to get cleared.

How do you intend on explaining your testing positive?

Listen, I think the team – we’re doing everything we can to get it solved. There’s a process to follow, and once that is completed, everything will come out, you know?

Does that mean, when you reflect, that you can see a way that it could’ve happened accidentally?

Yeah, you start questioning everything. You start questioning “Why did I have that cup of tea?”. Or “Why did I do this?” Or “Why did I do that?” There’s a lot of things you think about. I’ve never failed a drugs test before, so it was a surprise and shock.

Are you aware of what the potential consequences are, if you’re found guilty?

Not quite. I think there’s a ban. The team are taking care of it at the moment. I’m in Australia at the moment; I came to support Jai Opetaia in victory over Huseyin Cinkara and the other fighters on the undercard; Teremoana [Teremoana]. I’m just living my life as normal; this blessed lifestyle. I have to travel around with my family. Hopefully my team will get it sorted very soon.

How confident are you that you’ll fight again?

Very confident. I’m very confident I will fight again.

Given that you maintain your innocence, how frustrating does this feel at a time when so many believe that the sport is being undermined by the widespread use of PEDs?

I think the whole process is frustrating, but what can you do? You’ve just got to accept it and follow what we can in order to get it cleared.

Have you ever taken recreational drugs?

In the past I’ve enjoyed myself. I wouldn’t say “recreational drugs”, but I went out and had a few beers and that. That’s the old me, when I was young fighter. Now, after every fight, all I do is go home to the wife and kids. My life is on track. I’m focused on living the best that I can live and doing the best that I can do.

For the record, are you guilty?

No, not at all. If I was guilty I would say I’d made a mistake. But I’m not.

Then, how difficult has this been for you, emotionally?

You know, when I got told, I was shocked. But emotionally, I know I did nothing wrong. My wife said as long as I’ve got the right people around me, and I did nothing wrong, so what’s there to worry about?

All I can say is I had a great camp. All the other drugs tests came back negative. I had my wife and kids there, and I had the opportunity to fight Usyk, because he still wanted the fight. It just doesn’t make any sense.

It makes it hurtful but what can you do, mate? I just think about what’s next.

When are you likely to learn more about what’s next?

Very soon, you know. There’s the process. It’s a bit of a process. It’s getting the team to get it sorted, and once it’s all cleared I’m ready to come back again.

How did you feel when Fabio Wardley was elevated to WBO heavyweight champion?

I’m happy for him. I actually gave him a text and said congratulations. I think his story is an amazing story. He’s a champion. He’s achieved what he set out to achieve in boxing.

You openly doubted, pre-fight, whether Oleksandr Usyk would fight the winner…

I think Usyk had his own plans and was probably looking forward to having a fight with myself but in boxing things happen and, you know, things don’t really go the way you think they might go. With Usyk, I’m not really sure what he has in mind. I think from what I saw online he’s looking at fighting [Deontay] Wilder.

How do you reflect on your former opponent Anthony Joshua agreeing to fight Jake Paul?

Jake Paul’s done a lot in his career and is also bringing a lot of eyes to the sport of boxing. I guess he’s serious about what he wants to achieve in boxing, as he’s locked in a fight with Joshua. I mean, it’s massive step up. For boxing people, you would think Joshua would just bluff it out, but he truly thinks he has a chance against Joshua. So, I think a lot of fans – a lot of supporters – are interested to see how it goes.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joseph Parker’s Manager Provides Crucial Update Following Failed Drugs Test

Joseph Parker career remains in limbo following a failed drugs test.

Parker was last out against Fabio Wardley, and it was a hugely entertaining battle which saw the former WBO champion pull away on the cards in the early rounds.

He was looking to repeat recent wins over Martin Bakole, Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder, but got caught by a numberous big shots as the fight progressed and the referee was forced to stop the fight, seeing Wardley upgraded from interim to full world champion in the aftermath.

In another major blow to Parker, it was later revealed that he had tested positive for cocaine on the day of the fight.

Speaking to allegedly, Parker’s manager Spencer Brown gave an update on the situation.

“A lot of this drug testing, we need to get it faster, we need to get a clearer routine. There’s a few boxers at the moment in no-man’s land, they don’t know if they’re here or there, if you’re a young lad it’s not very good for your brain.

“But Joe Parker, I can assure you, I vehemently defend him, he’s not taken any drugs, I think there’s been a contamination, the public will find out about it in due course and I’m just hoping this doesn’t take forever.

“He’s a 33, 34 year old heavyweight who we love watching, he won fight of the year last year with Wardley and I still think it could have gone either way that fight if he didn’t get caught and I still want to see him fight again. I’m desperate to see that. We’ve got a case. I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

Fans of Parker will hope Brown speaks the truth, that this can be sorted and he can get back to the ring sooner rather than later in 2026, possibly for a rematch with Wardley,

[Ruthless-RKO]

Was Joseph Parker the victim of contamination?

If we know anything about positive performance-enhancing drug tests by now, we know that the search for clarity is often long and convoluted and that an “update” is seldom satisfying.

In fact, usually an “update” is not an update at all, but instead a way of pacifying the people asking questions and treating the bruise with concealer. It is a way to bide time, control a narrative. It is a way of showing there is nothing to hide.

In the case of Joseph Parker, the New Zealand heavyweight whose defeat against Fabio Wardley in October was compounded by a positive drug test for cocaine, there is already a sense of impatience. There is impatience on the part of Parker, no doubt, and there is also impatience on the part of those wanting to see Parker clear his name and resume his career.

Parker, after all, is a popular figure in the sport and a man whose personality seems at odds with the “crime” for which he has been accused. Not only that, he is now in his fighting prime, and at the age of 34 the last thing he wants is to have his career stall or, worse, peter out.

It is for that reason questions are being asked regarding his positive drug test on the day of the Wardley fight. It is for that reason there is a hunger for updates.

“A lot of this drug testing, we need to get it faster, we need to get a clearer routine,” Parker’s manager Spencer Brown told allegedly this week. “There are a few boxers at the moment in no-man’s land; they don’t know if they’re here or there. If you’re a young lad it’s not very good for your brain.

“But Joe Parker, I vehemently defend him. He’s not taken any drugs. I think there’s been contamination. The public will find out about it in due course and I’m just hoping this doesn’t take forever.”

Sadly, while it might not take “forever”, this kind of process does typically drag on and leave the boxer seeking clearance in a bit of a limbo state. This we have seen countless times in the past, of course, most notably with Conor Benn (who produced two positive tests for clomiphene in 2022), yet our familiarity with it does little to ease our frustration or make us any more patient. At best, we become resigned to it, that’s all. We accept that we must wait. We accept that we will never know the truth. We accept, too, that an update will never be an update.

“He’s [Parker] a 34-year-old heavyweight who we all love watching,” continued Brown. “He won Fight of the Year last year with Wardley and I still think it could have gone either way, that fight, if he didn’t get caught [in round 11]. I still want to see him fight again. I’m desperate to see that. We’ve got a case. I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

The same goes for Parker, the man in the middle and the only one who knows. Last month, in Australia, he was asked by Boxing Scene about the positive test and the path to getting cleared, and said, “Listen, there’s not really much we can do or say because there’s a bit of a process going on, but I do believe – well, hopefully – we get cleared soon.”

Parker did, however, start to open up a bit when pushed by Declan Warrington for more than just an “update”. When, for example, he was prompted to reflect on events surrounding the Wardley fight, as well as potential consequences of the test result, Parker did away with soundbites and platitudes. “You start questioning everything,” he admitted. “You start questioning, ‘Why did I have that cup of tea?’ Or, ‘Why did I do this?’ Or, ‘Why did I do that?’ There’s a lot of things you think about.”

Asked then whether he had ever used drugs of any kind, recreational or otherwise, Parker, 36-4 (24 KOs), said: “In the past I’ve enjoyed myself. I wouldn’t say ‘recreational drugs’, but I went out and had a few beers and that. That’s the old me, when I was a young fighter. Now, after every fight, all I do is go home to the wife and kids. My life is on track. I’m focused on living the best that I can live and doing the best that I can do.”

[magnus]

Nobody is ever guilty are they.

Always a mix up, or "contamination issues".

[londonwar]

The enhanced Olympics is an option in Las Vegas this summer