Former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker faces a potential boxing ban after a positive cocaine test. The 33-year-old New Zealander's career hangs in the balance following a failed drugs test on October 25th, the day before his highly anticipated fight with Fabio Wardley. The Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) conducted the test, and sources confirm Parker tested positive for cocaine, not performance-enhancing drugs. This could result in a two-year ban, though the severity of the punishment may be reduced to three months depending on the circumstances. The UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) will need to investigate further, as they did not administer the test. Parker's team, Queensberry, has been informed, and the BBC has reached out to VADA, Queensberry, and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) for comment. This isn't Parker's first encounter with doping concerns. In 2019, boxer Liam Cameron received a four-year ban for a positive benzoylecgonine test, a metabolic acid of cocaine. Parker's aspirations of challenging undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk were dashed by Wardley's victory at the O2 Arena. Parker's reign as heavyweight champion ended in 2018 when he lost to Anthony Joshua in Cardiff. The boxing world awaits the outcome of this investigation, with many curious about the potential consequences for Parker's future in the sport.
