Anthony Joshua has admitted to smoking cannabis six times a day from the age of 13, in a candid interview with Louis Theroux for the BBC. The former heavyweight world champion described his habit as 'wake and bake' and confessed he would skip school to smoke.
Joshua, who spent time in prison in 2009, was pulled over by police in 2011 while wearing his Team GB tracksuit and found to have eight ounces of cannabis in a sports bag. He said the tracksuit was a 'disguise' because of racial profiling.
The incident led to his suspension from Team GB, a 12-month community order and 100 hours of unpaid work. However, Joshua credited the Olympic committee for giving him a second chance, saying they 'honoured' him by allowing him back into the squad after he sorted his life out.
He went on to win gold at the London 2012 Olympics and later became a two-time world heavyweight champion. Reflecting on his journey, Joshua warned young people against cannabis use, saying: 'When I stopped smoking I was able to progress.'
After losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and a rematch the following year, Joshua has now won consecutive fights against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, and is targeting a showdown with Deontay Wilder.
