Boxing Dec 07, 2025

Joseph Parker fails drugs test: Heavyweight tested positive for traces of cocaine on day of Fabio Wardley defeat

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Joseph Parker fails drugs test: Heavyweight tested positive for traces of cocaine on day of Fabio Wardley defeat

Joseph Parker could face up to a two-year ban from boxing after a failed drugs test.

Parker's routine test given to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency returned traces of cocaine.

The test was conducted on the day of the New Zealand heavyweight's fight against Fabio Wardley, which the Briton won last month.

The news of Parker's failed test only emerged on Friday.

Frank Warren's Queensbury Promotions said: "The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) last night informed all required parties that Joseph Parker returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted on October 25 in relation to his bout with Fabio Wardley.

"While the matter is investigated further, no additional comment will be made at this time."

Spencer Brown, Parker's UK manager, said: "We are in total shock at the findings. We are just waiting to speak to Joe, David Higgins and his promoter Frank Warren.

"It is very early days and we will get to the bottom of it all."

The British Boxing Board of Control [BBBofC] has told SportNews it is "investigating" the matter.

Parker, 33, is a former world champion, who lost his belt to Anthony Joshua in 2018, but he went into his fight against Wardley in arguably the best form of his career.

After a punishing loss to Joe Joyce in 2022, Parker won his last six contests prior to Wardley, picking up victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, as well as winning the WBO Interim strap.

He was due to challenge then-IBF belt-holder Daniel Dubois in February, only for Dubois to fall ill just days before the fight was meant to take place.

Parker put his position as the WBO mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk on the line by taking the fight against Wardley.

It was a gamble that backfired and news of his failed drugs test now leaves major questions over his future in the sport.

SportNews Boxing expert Andy Scott:

"The headline is shocking.

"Everybody loves Joseph Parker. I think he's most people's second-favourite heavyweight. But there were questions as to why take that fight [against Wardley]?

"He was in line to fight [Oleksandr] Usyk. He instead took a risky fight against Wardley, and now this is the headline.

"Not only did he lose the fight, he now has this investigation that he will have to come out of and clear his name.

"For context, Liam Cameron is the high-profile case in boxing with similar circumstances. He received a four-year ban for traces of cocaine, but the rules have changed since then.

"It will be interesting to see how this develops further. There's a full investigation, we'll wait to see what the outcome is of that, but there is a possibility that he's facing a two-year ban."

Tags:

boxing news id:13470155

Share this article

Related Posts

Katie Taylor: Irish boxing icon to retire after final fight this summer and hopeful farewell will take place at Croke Park

Katie Taylor: Irish boxing icon to retire after final fight this summer and hopeful farewell will take place at Croke Park

Katie Taylor has announced she plans to retire following a summer fight in Dublin.Taylor, 39, retained her undisputed world super lightweight title af...

Fabio Wardley to offer Tyson Fury a shot at his WBO world heavyweight championship if he retains against Daniel Dubois

Fabio Wardley to offer Tyson Fury a shot at his WBO world heavyweight championship if he retains against Daniel Dubois

Fabio Wardley has called for a heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury before the end of the year, as long as he makes a successful defence of the WBO wo...

Conor Benn decision to join Dana White and Zuffa Boxing will 'really hurt' Eddie Hearn, says Jonny Nelson

Conor Benn decision to join Dana White and Zuffa Boxing will 'really hurt' Eddie Hearn, says Jonny Nelson

Conor Benn’s decision to join Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing will have "really hurt" promoter Eddie Hearn but it’s a "business move", says Your Site expert...

Claressa Shields is pound-for-pound No 1 in world over Katie Taylor in woman's boxing, says promoter

Claressa Shields is pound-for-pound No 1 in world over Katie Taylor in woman's boxing, says promoter

Claressa Shields deserves to be recognised as the No 1 fighter in woman's boxing ahead of Katie Taylor, believes promoter Dmitriy Salita. Shields just...

Claressa Shields dominates Franchon Crews-Dezurn again in Detroit to remain undisputed heavyweight champion

Claressa Shields dominates Franchon Crews-Dezurn again in Detroit to remain undisputed heavyweight champion

Claressa Shields dominated Franchon Crews-Dezurn with a lopsided unanimous decision on Sunday night in Detroit, successfully defending her undisputed...

Conor Benn decision to join Dana White and Zuffa Boxing will 'really hurt' Eddie Hearn, says Jonny Nelson

Conor Benn decision to join Dana White and Zuffa Boxing will 'really hurt' Eddie Hearn, says Jonny Nelson

Conor Benn’s decision to join Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing will have "really hurt" promoter Eddie Hearn but it’s a "business move", says Your Site expert...