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Joseph Parker returned an adverse finding as part of a anti-doping examination carried out the very day of his 11th-round loss versus English fighter Ipswich-born Wardley.

The Match and Its Stakes

The British boxer together with Joseph Parker participated in an intense encounter held in London on 25 October to determine the next mandatory WBO contender against reigning heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

Joseph Parker was previously the leading contender to challenge Oleksandr Usyk subsequent to putting together a notable six-fight winning streak, but put his shot at the title at stake in London and endured an 11th-round defeat.

Adverse Finding and Possible Outcomes

An ordinary examination conducted on Joseph Parker by the anti-doping organization the day of the match showed an adverse result which leaves the 36-year-old with a battle to prove his innocence.

His promotion team issued an announcement which read: "The anti-doping body informed all required parties about Parker had a positive result following a drug screening administered on the fight day. While the matter is investigated, no more comments are planned at this time."

Professional History

Parker was crowned world champion six years ago before he surrendered the WBO title via unanimous decision versus Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in 2018.

The fighter remained a frequent visitor in the UK since then, fighting eight times altogether on UK territory and relocating to Ireland for fight camps alongside highly regarded trainer Andy Lee in recent years.

Current Situation

Under the tutelage of Lee, Parker recovered from the 2022 setback to Joe Joyce to achieve several successes that placed him at the front of the line to meet the champion before he lost against Wardley.

Following Parker's sample showed an adverse finding during the Wardley bout, reportedly for cocaine, an inquiry regarding the results is underway.

• Joseph Parker tested positive for a prohibited substance.
• The test was conducted by Vada the day of the bout.
• The fighter now faces a possible suspension from competition.
• Queensberry released a comment confirming the positive test.
• A formal inquiry is now ongoing about the situation.