Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has publicly denied taking any banned substance after a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test returned an adverse finding on the day of his October fight against Fabio Wardley. According to reports, the positive result was for cocaine, leaving the 33-year-old New Zealander facing a serious battle to clear his name and avoid a lengthy ban.
Parker: “I Did Not Take Any Prohibited Substance”
In a statement posted to Instagram, Parker insisted he did nothing wrong and said he is fully cooperating with the investigation.
“I want to address today’s news. Before my recent fight I took a voluntary test and have now been informed that it returned an adverse result,” Parker wrote.
“This came as a real surprise to me. I did not take any prohibited substance, I do not use performance-enhancing drugs and do not support their use.
I am cooperating fully with the process now underway, and I am confident the investigation will clear my name.”
He added a message of thanks to supporters:
“Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support. It means a great deal to me and my family. When the investigation is complete, I will speak openly and answer questions.”
Queensberry Confirms Adverse Finding
Parker’s promotional team, Queensberry, released a brief statement acknowledging the result:
“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. While the matter is investigated further, no additional comment will be made at this time.”
High Stakes for Parker After Wardley Defeat
Parker’s test result comes at a crucial moment in his career. He entered his fight with Wardley riding a six-fight winning streak, sitting as the WBO’s mandatory challenger to undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. But he opted to risk that position in London and suffered an 11th-round stoppage, opening the door for Wardley while placing his own future in doubt.
If the adverse finding leads to suspension, the loss to Wardley could prove to be Parker’s final outing for an extended period.
A Former Champion at a Crossroads
Auckland-born Parker won the WBO world title in 2016, defending it twice before losing a unanimous decision to Anthony Joshua in 2018 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Since then, Parker has been a regular fixture in the UK, fighting eight times on British soil and relocating to Dublin for extended training camps with renowned coach Andy Lee. Under Lee, he rebounded from a 2022 defeat to Joe Joyce and rebuilt himself into a top contender until the setback against Wardley.
Now, with his reputation and career momentum hanging in the balance, Parker awaits the outcome of the investigation that will determine whether he can continue his push for another world title or whether he’ll be sidelined indefinitely.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
