Joseph Parker cleared to compete as provisional suspension lifted, final sanction pending
Joseph Parker's provisional suspension for testing positive for cocaine has been lifted, clearing the 34-year-old former heavyweight champion to compete, according to the BBC. A potential ban of up to two years remains possible pending investigations by UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control.
Joseph Parker's provisional suspension for a positive cocaine test has been lifted, clearing the 34-year-old former heavyweight champion to compete, according to the BBC. The British Boxing Board of Control confirmed the suspension was lifted but declined to comment further on the case.
Parker was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on October 25, the same day he was defeated by Britain's Fabio Wardley at London's O2 Arena. Parker has denied knowingly taking any banned substances. He stated on Wednesday, "I'm pleased to confirm my provisional suspension is lifted and I'll be back in the ring soon," per the BBC.
A potential ban of up to two years remains possible, with any final sanction to be determined by UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control. The BBC contacted UK Anti-Doping, which did not oversee the original Vada test and stated it would need to carry out its own investigation.
Parker holds a professional record of 36 wins and four defeats. He was WBO heavyweight champion from 2016 to 2018 before losing the title to Britain's Anthony Joshua in Cardiff. The lifting of the provisional suspension does not resolve the ongoing investigation, and the timeline for UK Anti-Doping's review and the BBBoC's final ruling remains unspecified.
Details on how Parker tested positive for cocaine and what explanation he has provided to the testing authorities have not been disclosed in reporting.
Parker's provisional suspension has been lifted and he can return to competition, but a final sanction of up to two years is still possible pending UK Anti-Doping and BBBoC investigations.
Parker can now fight again, but a final sanction investigation by UK Anti-Doping and the BBBoC is still underway. Watch the timeline of these investigations and any statement from the authorities on whether a ban will be imposed and for how long.
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Sources
Single-source report. As published, only BBC Sport had reported this development. No independent outlet had corroborated it.
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