Joseph Parker has denied taking any prohibited substance after failing a drugs test on the day of his 11th-round stoppage loss to British heavyweight Fabio Wardley. The New Zealander expressed confidence that an investigation would clear his name.
The test, conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (Vada) on 25 October, returned an adverse finding. Parker's promotional company, Queensberry, confirmed the result in a statement on Friday, noting that no further comment would be made while the matter is investigated.
In a statement on Instagram on Saturday, Parker said the result came as a surprise. He asserted that he did not take any prohibited substance, does not use performance-enhancing drugs, and is cooperating fully with the investigation. He added that he would speak openly once the process is complete.
The fight, held in London, determined the WBO mandatory challenger to undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Parker had been on a six-fight winning streak and was next in line for a title shot before the defeat. The positive test reportedly involved cocaine, according to sources.
Parker, a former WBO champion who lost his belt to Anthony Joshua in 2018, has been training in Dublin under coach Andy Lee. He had recovered from a 2022 loss to Joe Joyce with a series of victories before the Wardley bout.
