New Zealand's Joseph Parker Confronts Possible Suspension After Positive Doping Test

Joseph Parker produced a positive sample as part of a anti-doping examination carried out the same day he faced 11th-round loss versus English fighter Fabio Wardley.

The Match and Its Stakes

Fabio Wardley and the New Zealander were part of a thrilling bout in London in late October to determine the next mandatory WBO contender to reigning heavyweight king Ukrainian champion Usyk.

The fighter had been the primary candidate to meet Oleksandr Usyk following compiling an impressive six consecutive victories, however placed his contender position at stake in London and experienced an 11th-round stoppage.

Positive Test Plus Implications

A standard screening given to the boxer by the anti-doping organization the day of the match came back positive and now leaves the 36-year-old in a difficult position to prove his innocence.

His promotion team issued a communique which read: "The agency informed everyone involved about Parker had a positive result subsequent to an anti-doping test administered on the fight day. During the ongoing inquiry, no further statements are planned currently."

Boxing Journey

Joseph Parker was crowned titleholder in 2016 until he was defeated for his WBO belt through a points decision versus British star Joshua at the Millennium Stadium 24 months later.

Joseph Parker remained an active participant across the United Kingdom after that, having eight matches altogether in Britain and moving to the Irish capital for training camps with highly regarded trainer Andy Lee during this period.

Recent Developments

Coached by Andy Lee, Parker bounced back from the 2022 setback to Joe Joyce to secure multiple wins that placed him as the top contender to challenge Usyk before he was defeated against Wardley.

Subsequent to the boxer produced a failed test on the day of the Wardley fight, allegedly for cocaine, an inquiry about the test outcome has commenced.

• Parker tested positive for a banned substance.
• The screening was administered through Vada on October 25th.
• The fighter could receive disciplinary action from the sport.
• Queensberry has issued a statement acknowledging the adverse finding.
• A review is currently underway about the situation.