Boxing Star's Career in Jeopardy After Shocking Drug Test
Former World Champion boxer Joseph Parker is confronting a potential multi-year suspension from the sport after returning a positive test for cocaine on the day of his heavyweight clash with Britain's Fabio Wardley. The adverse finding throws the New Zealand fighter's immediate future into serious doubt.
The Fight and The Failed Test
The 33-year-old Parker suffered a dramatic 11th-round defeat to Wardley in their high-stakes bout at London's O2 Arena last month. The fight was to determine the next challenger for undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk. Parker was ahead on the judges' scorecards heading into the final rounds before being controversially stopped by the Ipswich fighter.
However, the focus has now shifted entirely from the ring action to a failed anti-doping test. The Sun reported that the Voluntary Anti Doping Agency (VADA) collected a sample from Parker on October 25, the day of the fight. The A-sample analysis confirmed the presence of cocaine.
While Parker and his team retain the right to have the B-sample tested, it is widely acknowledged that in the vast majority of such cases, both samples return an identical result.
How the Substance Entered His System
The exact method by which the substance entered the boxer's system remains unclear. However, medical experts note that traces of cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine typically remain detectable in urine for approximately four days. This timeline strongly suggests that any contact with the illegal drug would have occurred during the critical fight week leading up to the high-profile event.
A source close to the boxer expressed profound shock at the news, telling The Sun: 'I am absolutely shocked. This has been the first camp where Joe has all of his family around. The camp had gone great and he put on a good performance in a great fight.' The publication also noted that Parker is currently on holiday with his family following the Wardley fight.
Potential Consequences and Precedent
Although cocaine is not considered a performance-enhancing drug in the traditional sense, its use is strictly prohibited during 'in-competition' periods defined by anti-doping authorities. A violation carries the potential for a two-year ban from the sport, though longer suspensions are possible.
VADA will now formally hand over its findings to the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC). These bodies, which licensed the fight, are responsible for adjudicating the matter and administering any potential punishment.
This case bears a similarity to that of British light heavyweight Liam Cameron, who was banned from boxing for four years in 2018 after UKAD announced he had tested positive for the same metabolite of cocaine. Cameron denied any wrongdoing at the time.
Parker, who was born in Auckland, relocated his family to Ireland to be closer to his coach, Andy Lee, and his training base in Dublin. The heavyweight previously claimed the WBO heavyweight title in 2016 by defeating Andy Ruiz and boasts a professional record of 36 wins from 40 fights.
