Joseph Parker returned an adverse finding during a drugs test conducted the same day he faced 11th-round defeat against UK boxer Fabio Wardley.
The Match and Its Implications
Wardley together with Parker engaged in an intense contest staged in the UK capital on 25 October to decide the next WBO mandatory challenger against unified heavyweight titleholder Ukrainian champion Usyk.
Joseph Parker had been next in line to challenge Oleksandr Usyk following stringing together a notable six wins in a row, yet risked his contender position on the line in the UK and experienced an 11th-round defeat.
Adverse Finding and Possible Outcomes
A routine test conducted on Joseph Parker through the anti-doping organization the day of the match showed an adverse result and now leaves Parker facing a challenge to demonstrate his cleanliness.
His promotion team issued a communique stating: "The anti-doping body informed everyone involved that Joseph Parker had a positive result following an anti-doping test conducted on the 25th October. During the ongoing inquiry, no additional comment are forthcoming for now."
Career Background
Parker became heavyweight champion in 2016 until he lost his championship belt via unanimous decision to British star Joshua at the Millennium Stadium in 2018.
The fighter has been a regular competitor across the United Kingdom after that, fighting eight times in total in Britain and transferring to the Irish capital for preparation with highly regarded trainer Andy Lee in recent years.
Recent Developments
Guided by Lee, the boxer bounced back from his 2022 loss to Joe Joyce to secure a string of victories which put him front of the queue to challenge Usyk prior to he was defeated to Wardley.
Following Parker returned a positive test during the Wardley bout, reportedly for cocaine, an inquiry regarding the results has been started.
- Joseph Parker failed a drug test for a prohibited substance.
- The screening was administered by Vada the day of the bout.
- The fighter could receive a potential ban from competition.
- His promotional team has issued a statement addressing the adverse finding.
- A review is now ongoing regarding the case.
