Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker finds himself at the center of a major sporting controversy after testing positive for a cocaine metabolite just days before his recent fight against Fabian Wardley.
Shocking Test Results Revealed
The 33-year-old New Zealand boxer underwent testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) on October 25, with results confirming an adverse finding. The test detected benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, in Parker's system.
Spencer Brown, Parker's UK manager, expressed complete shock at the development. "We are in total shock at the findings," Brown stated. "We are just waiting to speak to Joe, David Higgins and his promoter Frank Warren. It's very early days and we will get to the bottom of it all."
Timing and Potential Consequences
According to boxing experts, the positive test suggests Parker could have consumed the recreational drug as recently as 48 hours before fight night. Cocaine is water-soluble and typically remains detectable in urine for two to four days after use, depending on consumption patterns.
The National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association confirms cocaine can be detected in urine for up to four days post-consumption. While considered recreational rather than performance-enhancing, the substance still carries severe consequences for professional athletes.
Previous History and Current Status
This isn't Parker's first encounter with drug testing controversies. Back in 2017, the boxer missed a World Boxing Council imposed drug test due to an extended holiday, failing to update VADA about his changed plans.
Currently, Parker is on holiday but retains the right to request testing of his B-sample, though in most cases this confirms the original findings. VADA will forward their results to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), which will determine appropriate punishment.
The potential sanctions could be severe. In 2018, a British boxer received a four-year ban after testing positive for the same cocaine metabolite, despite denying any wrongdoing.
Parker, a father of six who was with his wife and children during fight week, suffered an 11th-round stoppage loss to Wardley at London's O2 Arena. He had relinquished his mandatory challenger status to take the fight, a decision that ultimately proved costly both professionally and potentially personally.
Neither Parker nor his promoter have commented publicly on the failed test as the boxing world awaits the BBBoC's decision on what could be a lengthy suspension from the sport.
