LONDON (AP) — Former world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker argued to British anti-doping authorities that his nutritionist's cocaine use caused a positive drug test after his bout with Fabio Wardley last October.
Parker, who lost the Oct. 25 fight at O2 Arena in London, had been provisionally suspended after urine tests overseen by UK Anti-Doping showed traces of cocaine in his system.
UKAD said Thursday it imposed a three-month ban which was deemed served because the 34-year-old New Zealander had been suspended since late November.
Parker is free to fight again after the anti-doping organization accepted that “any ingestion of cocaine by Mr. Parker occurred out-of-competition only and in a context unrelated to sport performance.” It noted that “cocaine is prohibited in-competition only.”
Parker had told investigators he “did not knowingly or intentionally use cocaine” and alleged the positive test “was the result of his exposure to cocaine from use by a nutritionist he employed in preparation for the bout," UKAD's decision read.
Parker's explanation, UKAD said, included “a written statement from the nutritionist who admitted to being a regular user of cocaine, as well as to daily use of cocaine from 17 to 24 October 2025. The nutritionist stated that his cocaine use took place in his hotel room, where he also prepared meals and drinks for Mr. Parker to consume.”
An independent scientific expert told UKAD that he concluded “Mr. Parker administered cocaine out-of-competition” — meaning not the day of the competition. He added: "It is also my opinion that Mr. Parker’s administration of cocaine may have occurred orally from food contaminated with cocaine by his sports nutritionist who has admitted being a user of cocaine.”
In June, UKAD said it confirmed to Parker that in light of the expert's opinion, it was satisfied that any ingestion of cocaine occurred out-of-competition.
As a result, the organization said, “and irrespective of the merits of Mr. Parker’s explanation,” the provisional ban was lifted and the three-month ban imposed. On July 28, Parker confirmed that he accepted the ruling.
This week, Parker said on social media that he would be “back in the ring soon.”
Parker won the vacant WBO title in December 2016 when he beat Andy Ruiz Jr. on a majority decision. He then lost the belt to Anthony Joshua on a unanimous decision in March 2018 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
FILE - Joseph Parker in action against Deontay Wilder during their match in the Day of Reckoning Boxing Event, in the Kingdom Arena, Saudi Arabia, on Dec. 24, 2023. (AP Photo, File)
European soccer's governing body has retained its threat to boycott FIFA competitions despite FIFA apologizing for its failed plan to sell stakes in the World Cup.
UEFA on Thursday reiterated that it had lost confidence in FIFA president Gianni Infantino and said conditions to withdraw its boycott threat had not been met.
“UEFA’s associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non participation in FIFA competitions," it said in a statement. "First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and secondly, assurances have to be made that such attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.
“These conditions have not been met. In addition, UEFA made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino’s presidency. That position holds.”
It was another bruising day for Infantino, with global soccer players union FIFPRO accusing him of "a profound abuse of presidential power.”
The English Football Association has also withdrawn its support for Infantino's re-election.
Even Amnesty International said the “current crisis spotlights the need for governance reforms."
FIFA and Infantino tried to present a united front following a high-level summit in Morocco on Wednesday when it announced the president had the full support of top staff in attendance.
The world governing body also apologized for errors made over its controversial plan to sell profits in the World Cup through a commercial subsidiary and committed to “ensure they do not happen again.”
FIFA said it hoped its meeting would “help restore confidence” in the organization after the turbulence created by Infantino’s now abandoned project, which provoked widespread condemnation.
UEFA voted to abandon FIFA competitions if it went ahead. And even after Infantino’s hasty change of course, Europe’s governing body said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership — paving the way for a challenge to his presidency.
In its defiant statement, UEFA made it clear its position still held.
"Yesterday’s announcement that some people employed by the FIFA president (and whose careers depend on his favor) agree with him changes nothing,” it said.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, center, speaks to FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, left, sitting beside president of Moroccan Royal Football Federation Fouzi Lekjaa as they attend a Women's AFCON 2026 soccer match between Malawi and Zambia, in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (AP Photo)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino attends a Women's AFCON 2026 soccer match between Malawi and Zambia, in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (AP Photo)
