LONDON — Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker is free to return to boxing after UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) accepted that his positive cocaine test resulted from out-of-competition exposure and imposed a three-month ban that has already been served.
Parker, 34, tested positive for cocaine after his Oct. 25 bout against Fabio Wardley at London’s O2 Arena, where he lost by decision. UKAD provisionally suspended him in late November.
UKAD said Thursday that Parker’s three-month ban was considered served because he had remained provisionally suspended since November.
The anti-doping agency accepted that any cocaine ingestion occurred outside competition and was unrelated to sports performance. Cocaine is prohibited only during competition under anti-doping rules.
Parker told investigators that he did not knowingly or intentionally use cocaine. He attributed the positive test to exposure from a nutritionist he had hired while preparing for the Wardley fight.
According to UKAD’s decision, the nutritionist admitted regularly using cocaine and said he used the drug daily from Oct. 17 to 24, 2025. He also said he used cocaine in a hotel room where he prepared Parker’s meals and drinks.
An independent scientific expert told UKAD that Parker had likely ingested cocaine outside competition and said contaminated food could have provided a route of exposure.
UKAD said it became satisfied in June that any cocaine ingestion occurred out of competition. The agency lifted Parker’s provisional suspension and imposed the three-month ban regardless of the merits of his explanation.
Parker accepted the ruling on July 28 and said on social media this week that he would return to the ring soon.
Parker won the vacant WBO heavyweight title in December 2016 after beating Andy Ruiz Jr. by majority decision. He lost the title to Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision in March 2018.
