Former world Heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker is looking at disciplinary action after failing an in-competition drug test for cocaine.
On the day (Oct. 26, 2025) of his upset loss to Fabio Wardley (watch knockout here), Parker tested positive for cocaine (h/t Ring Magazine). Parker still has the opportunity to have his B-sample tested, which could clear his name if it comes back negative. The drug test was conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). What’s particularly interesting about this is that cocaine — considered merely recreation rather than performance enhancing drug (PED) — usually only remains in the system for two-t0-three days, so the implication here is that Parker was using very close to the actual competition.
Parker has yet to comment publicly the drug test failure. His UK manager Spencer Brown, however, responded (via BBC.com), “We are in total shock at the findings. It is very early days and we will get to the bottom of it all.”
Parker (36-4, 24) was closing in on a high-profile matchup versus Oleksandr Usyk before suffering the Wardley loss. Instead, he’s now facing a potential two-year sit on the sidelines if his B-sample doesn’t clear his name. Ultimately, any decisions regarding a potential suspension will be made by the UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control.