Top heavyweight boxer 'tested positive for cocaine' hours before his fight at the O2 Arena last month: Former world champion faces long ban

Top heavyweight boxer 'tested positive for cocaine' hours before his fight at the O2 Arena last month: Former world champion faces long ban
By: dailymail Posted On: November 14, 2025 View: 35

Joseph Parker 'tested positive for cocaine' on the same day he fought Fabio Wardley last month at the O2 Arena. 

The former world champion, 33, was tested by VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) on October 25 and an adverse finding has now been revealed.  

According to the Sun, Parker failed the test, with Cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine showing up in the findings. 

The New Zealander is currently on holiday but will have the opportunity to have his B-sample tested.

In most cases the B-sample shows up with exactly the same result and VADA will give their findings to the BBBoC (British Boxing Board of Control). 

The governing body will then decide on any potential punishment for Parker, which could end up being a lengthy ban from boxing. 

Joseph Parker tested positive for cocaine on the day of the Fabio Wardley fight

Even though cocaine is considered a recreational rather than performance-enhancing drug, he could still face years out of the sport. 

Back in 2018, British boxer Liam Cameron was banned for four years after he tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, though he denied any wrongdoing. 

Parker is a father of six and was with his wife and children during the week of the Wardley fight, which he lost via an 11th-round stoppage. 

The heavyweight and his promoter Frank Warren are yet to comment on the failed test. 

Parker previously missed a World Boxing Council imposed drug test because of a holiday eight years ago in 2017.

His promoter at the time, Duco Events, explained he missed the test after his win over Razvan Cojanu because of the break.

At the time, Duco Events said: 'Joseph extended his holiday following the Cojanu bout on May 6 and didn’t update the Vada system of his change of plans.

'A couple of weeks ago drug testers went to his residence in Las Vegas and he had said he was going to be in camp there but he had changed his plans and was in Samoa at the time.

Parker was beaten by stoppage in the 11th round against the British heavyweight

'There is no hiding it’s an oversight.'

Parker had been favourite to win the Wardley fight but was upset by the Brit at the O2 Arena.

He had given up his mandatory challenger status to fight champion Oleksandr Usyk to fight Wardley instead, a decision which proved costly. 

Parker's record is 36 wins with 24 knockouts and he's been in the ring with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder. 

Parker won the world championship when he claimed the vacant WBC international heavyweight title against Wilder two years ago. 

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