Ex-boxing champ Joseph Parker tested positive for cocaine on day of fight

Joseph Parker, the former World Boxing Organization Heavyweight champion, tested positive for cocaine on the day of his Oct. 25 loss to Fabio Wardley in England, according to The Sun.

He now faces potential punishment, with The Sun mentioning a possible two-year ban.

“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 the 25th October in relation to his bout with Fabio Wardley,” Boxing group Queensberry Promotions posted to X on Friday morning.

“While the matter is investigated further, no additional comment will be made at this time.”

Joseph Parker strikes Fabio Wardley. AP

Parker, a 33-year-old New Zealand native, can have his B sample tested, per The Sun, but the outlet reported that the B Sample usually matches the A Sample result.

UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control will reportedly decide the punishment.

“I am absolutely shocked,” a source close to Parker told the publication. “This has been the first camp where Joe has all of his family around.

“The camp had gone great and he put on a good performance in a great fight.”

Parker lost to Wardley in the 11th round of their interim title bout in an upset last month.

Joseph Parker before the bout. Action Images via Reuters

He had been serving as the WBO interim Heavyweight champion since last March, when he defeated Zhilei Zhang.

Parker had been slated to fight undisputed world Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, but he requested a delay due to an injury.

That led to Parker facing Woodley, with the winner set to face Usyk.

While Wardley now is set to face the champion, Parker’s future is in question while he waits for possible sanctions from this positive test.

Parker is 36-4 in his career, having started 24-0 before losing his first fight to Joshua Anthony in 2018, which cost him his WBO Heavyweight championship.