Joseph Parker has denied taking any prohibited substance after failing a drugs test on the day of his 11th-round stoppage defeat to British heavyweight Fabio Wardley. The New Zealander expressed confidence that an investigation would clear his name.
The fight, which took place in London on 25 October, was a WBO final eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger for undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Parker had been on a six-fight winning streak and was next in line to face Usyk, but his hopes were dashed when he was stopped in the 11th round.
A routine test administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (Vada) on the day of the bout returned an adverse finding, reportedly for cocaine. Parker's promotional company, Queensberry, confirmed the positive test in a statement on Friday, noting that an investigation was underway.
In a statement on Instagram on Saturday, Parker said: 'I did not take any prohibited substance, I do not use performance enhancing drugs and do not support their use. I am cooperating fully with the process now underway, and I am confident the investigation will clear my name.'
The 36-year-old former world champion, who lost his WBO belt to Anthony Joshua in 2018, has been a regular visitor to the UK, fighting eight times in total on British soil. He relocated to Dublin for training camps with trainer Andy Lee, under whom he rebuilt his career after a 2022 loss to Joe Joyce.
The positive test could result in a lengthy ban, potentially ending Parker's hopes of another world title shot. The investigation into the findings is ongoing.
