Joseph Parker Tests Positive For Cocaine on Day of Wardley Fight

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Report: Joseph Parker Tests Positive For Cocaine on Day of Wardley Fight

Former WBO world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker failed a drugs test for cocaine on the day of his 11th-round stoppage defeat by Fabio Wardley, it has been revealed.

The 33-year-old was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) and the adverse analytical finding was revealed on Friday morning, per a report in The Sun.

Two sources close to Team Parker have conveyed their dismay to The Ring at the findings, for which he has an opportunity to have his B-sample tested.

In most cases however, the A and B-sample results are identical and traces of cocaine, known as benzoylecgonine, can be detected in urine for several days after taking the drug - meaning it would have been taken at some stage during fight week.

Parker (36-4, 24 KOs) is said to be currently on holiday, and while eager for redemption after his latest defeat, his manager David Higgins told The Ring there was no expectation on his charge to return for a 'little while' before this development.

The VADA will now handover their findings to UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control, who oversee doping and punish offenders.

Although cocaine is a recreational drug and not performance-enhancing, the Kiwi could potentially face a two-year suspension.

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Ex-world champion Parker fails drugs test for cocaine

Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is facing a possible ban from boxing after testing positive for cocaine.

The 33-year-old New Zealander failed a drugs test on the day of his fight with Fabio Wardley on 26 October, according to the Sun., external

He was tested by the Voluntary Anti Doping Agency (Vada) on 25 October.

Sources have confirmed to BBC Sport Parker tested positive for the recreational drug and not performance enhancing drugs.

Parker could receive a two-year ban but could also be suspended for as little as three months depending on circumstances.

Any ban would be handed down by UK Anti-Doping (Ukad) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC).

Ukad, however, did not administer this test and will need to conduct their own investigation.

Queensberry have been informed by Vada about the failed test.

The BBC has contacted Vada, Parker's promoters Queensberry and the BBBC for comment.

Boxer Liam Cameron was given a four-year ban in 2019 for testing positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolic acid of cocaine, but rules have changed since then with Rugby League player Adam Rusling getting a three-month ban in 2024 for testing positive for cocaine and MDMA.

Parker was hoping to put himself in position for a shot at undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk but was upset by British fighter Wardley at the O2 Arena.

Parker was heavyweight champion between 2016 and 2018, with his reign ended by Britain's Anthony Joshua in Cardiff.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[joshj909]

Copp incorrect once again

[Sendo Takeshi]

The Tyson Fury effect.

[Thomastearns]

The Tyson Fury effect.

Unfortunately for Joseph Parker, unlike Luke Partridge, he wasn't "retired" and hence could be tested.

Fury, as he's now also known, is definitely not a good pre-fight influence.

Whether Luke was involved or not, cocaine, unless it has masking qualities, is unlikely to enhance fight night performance.

In any case, none of this is going to affect the prospects of Parker and his backers from making more money in the future.

Jarrell Miller, and numerous others, can testify to that.

[Perseus]

So VADA caught somebody using a performance REDUCING drug.
Good job


This is not in line with the usual VADA drug testing results that tell us only the winning fighter or A-side fighter can fail drug tests.
Parker didn't win and he wasn't the A-side.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Parker has new denied taking cocains

[Sendo Takeshi]

So VADA caught somebody using a performance REDUCING drug.
Good job


This is not in line with the usual VADA drug testing results that tell us only the winning fighter or A-side fighter can fail drug tests.
Parker didn't win and he wasn't the A-side.

Imagine if he lost because of that.
Let's say he was just 5% slower, 5% less focused and 5% less explosive. That's more than enough in a boxing fight (and heavyweight at that) to lose.

Didn't expect Parker to be this stupid.
Shows you that you never know who those guys are actually.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

“I want to address today's news. 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 do 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.”

- JOSEPH PARKER

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joseph Parker: 'I did not take any prohibited substance'

Joseph Parker has reacted on social media to reports that he tested positive for cocaine on the day of his fight with Fabio Wardley.

The 33-year-old heavyweight contender was ahead on two cards going into the 11th round of a memorable battle before he was dramatically stopped. It was a sizeable upset but the results of his drug test, which occurred before the contest, has proved an even bigger surprise.

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"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," said Parker, 36-4 (24 KOs).

"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."

[Ruthless-RKO]

[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.

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

He did it. He's full of shit
And apparently cocaine

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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,

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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.”

[CiganoBoxer]

He don't seem the type imho

[joshj909]

He don't seem the type imho

Hangs out with Fury and has previously been "exposed" as messaging drug dealers for coke but isn't the type to do coke

[catalin714]

I’m mad he didnt call me.

Didnt think he was the not sharing type

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joseph Parker has officially had his provisional UKAD suspension lifted and has been cleared to return to the ring.

Parker was suspended for testing positive for cocaine on the day of his stoppage defeat to Fabio Wardley.

[joshj909]

It will be interesting to hear how they got to that conclusion

[Ruthless-RKO]

It will be interesting to hear how they got to that conclusion

it was all done on a the hush, literally, the whole thing.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Joseph Parker cleared to fight, suspension lifted after positive drug test

Heavyweight Joseph Parker has been cleared to fight, with his provisional suspension following a positive drug test now lifted.

Parker returned a positive drug test for cocaine on the day of his defeat to Fabio Wardley in London in October.

An investigation had been underway, but Parker confirmed on Wednesday he was free to fight.

"I'm pleased to confirm my provisional suspension is lifted and I'll be back in the ring soon," Parker said in a statement to ESPN. "I've been advised to say no more for now while details are finalised. Thank you to all my supporters."

The New Zealander's team had claimed the positive result came from contamination and insisted he was innocent.

The 34-year-old has been out of action this year after he failed the voluntary anti-doping agency (VADA) test but has always maintained his innocence, saying at the time: "I did not take any prohibited substance, I did not use performance enhancing drugs and do not support their use."

Wardley stopped Parker in Round 11 at The O2.

ESPN have contacted UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control for comment.

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Parker cleared to return after drugs ban lifted

Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has been cleared to fight again.

After months of waiting for positive updates, the 34-year-old Kiwi has officially had his provisional suspension lifted by UKAD.

This comes after failing a drugs test for cocaine on the day of his 11th-round stoppage loss by Fabio Wardley, who was upgraded to full WBO champion a few weeks later.

Parker (36-4, 24 KOs) has remained around the scene during different fight weeks worldwide, continued training alongside friend Tyson Fury among others while wishing for a swift verdict.

The 14-year pro maintained his innocence throughout, insisting he would have admitted making a mistake had he been intentionally guilty in this case. He also questioned the logic of trying to cheat, being so close to a world title.

When asked about the situation on site at Jai Opetaia's eighth-round knockout win over Huseyin Cinkara in December, the longtime contender told BoxingS cene:

"I was devastated [upon hearing of the news]. 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."

Eight months after that interview, he can return to action. Before being removed from The Ring's heavyweight rankings after the drug test, he was joint No. 4 alongside Daniel Dubois in the division.

Much has changed since. Dubois inflicted Wardley's career-first defeat on May 9, Fury returned with two victories after his latest retirement while Ring champion Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his trio of world titles. Moses Itauma-Filip Hrgovic has this week been upgraded, now doubling as a vacant IBF title fight on August 29.

Parker posted a hopeful Facebook update earlier this week, asking and maintaining hope that any interested heavyweights could make the lengthy trip to New Zealand on short-notice for a fight this weekend.

He later confirmed that an opponent had been found and more would be confirmed at a later date.

The former champ is expected to be in attendance this weekend with his promoter hat on, as former world title challenger David Nyika faces Floyd Masson in an IBF final eliminator at the Eventfinda Stadium.

In a statement to New Zealand's The Post and other outlets, he said:

"I'm pleased to confirm my provisional suspension is lifted and I’ll be back in the ring soon. I've been advised to say no more for now while details are finalised.

"Thank you to all my supporters and please join me in backing David Nyika for his world title eliminator this Saturday. I believe Nyika will win this fight and secure a world title shot for New Zealand."

The winner will face European champion Viddal Riley (14-0, 7 KOs) for a shot at a vacant belt last held by Ring champion Opetaia, who was controversially stripped earlier this year.