Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker could face up to a two-year ban from boxing after testing positive for cocaine.
Traces of the drug were discovered in a routine test given to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, a source has confirmed to Sky Sports News.
The test was conducted on 25 October – the day the 33-year-old New Zealander lost to Britain’s Fabio Wardley.
Details of Parker’s failed test only became available on Friday, and Sky Sports News has since contacted Parker’s manager for comment.
Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions said in a statement on X: “The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association [VADA] last night informed all required parties that Joseph Parker returned an adverse finding following an anti-doping test conducted on October 25 in relation to his bout with Fabio Wardley.
“While the matter is investigated further, no additional comment will be made at this time.”
Parker went into the fight against Wardley in arguably the best form of his career, according to Sky Sports News.
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After his 2022 defeat to Joe Joyce, Parker went on a six-fight winning streak before facing Wardley, securing notable victories over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang and claiming the WBO interim title.
He lost his world champion belt to Anthony Joshua in 2018.
Parker was due to face then-IBF champion Daniel Dubois in February, but Dubois fell ill just days before the fight.
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He risked his status as the WBO mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk by accepting the fight with Wardley.
