Joseph Parker Faces Uncertain Future After Positive Cocaine Test
Hey, so there’s some pretty shocking news coming out of the boxing world right now. Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker, the 33-year-old from New Zealand, has tested positive for cocaine. This revelation came after a drugs test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, or VADA, on the day of his fight against Fabio Wardley, which took place on October 26. The test itself was actually administered a day earlier, on October 25.
Sources have confirmed that Parker tested positive specifically for a recreational drug, not for any performance-enhancing substances. Now, this puts him in a really precarious position, because depending on the outcome of investigations and the circumstances, Parker could be facing a suspension ranging anywhere from three months to as much as a two-year ban. The official sanction would be decided by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) alongside the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC). While VADA conducted the initial test, UKAD will still need to carry out its own investigation before any official punishment is handed down.
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This news comes at a particularly tricky time for Parker. He had been building momentum after winning six consecutive fights following his heavy loss to Joe Joyce in 2022. During that streak, he defeated notable opponents like Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, and even secured the WBO Interim belt. His plan was to get into position to challenge undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, but that dream was put on hold when he suffered a surprising defeat to Wardley at London’s O2 Arena. Now, with the failed drugs test revealed, questions about his future in the sport are looming even larger.
Parker’s career has had its highs and lows. He held the heavyweight world title from 2016 until 2018, losing the belt to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff. Before the Wardley fight, he was widely considered to be in the best form of his career. He was even set to challenge IBF champion Daniel Dubois earlier this year, but the fight was canceled when Dubois fell ill. Now, with the positive cocaine test confirmed, the trajectory of Parker’s comeback and ambitions in the heavyweight division has been seriously jeopardized.
Historically, the punishment for cocaine use in sport has varied. For example, boxer Liam Cameron received a four-year ban in 2019, but more recently, Rugby League player Adam Rusling got just a three-month suspension for testing positive for both cocaine and MDMA in 2024. So while Parker could be sidelined for a significant period, there’s also the possibility of a shorter suspension, depending on the decisions of UKAD and the BBBC.
At the moment, Parker’s team, along with his promoters Queensberry, are working with authorities as the investigation continues. Meanwhile, the boxing world is left watching closely to see what the future holds for a fighter who was once a dominant force in the heavyweight division but now faces perhaps the biggest challenge of his career outside the ring.
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