Doping body says Joseph Parker's positive cocaine test caused by nutritionist
Former heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker has been cleared to return to the ring after a three-month ban for a positive cocaine test. UK Anti-Doping accepted evidence that the substance was ingested unintentionally through his nutritionist.
Why it matters
This case highlights the complexities of anti-doping regulations in professional sports and the potential for third-party contamination to impact an athlete's career.
More details have emerged regarding former world heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker being cleared to return to the ring, following a positive test for cocaine last October.
UK Anti-Doping authorities have confirmed Parker was banned for three months after the 34-year-old New Zealander tested positive for cocaine on the day of his shock loss to Fabio Wardley in London, and they've laid the blame at his nutritionist.
Parker has always denied knowingly taking any banned substances and United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) said the nutritionist he employed ahead of his fight with Wardley was a "regular user of cocaine".
"New Zealand professional boxer Joseph Parker has served a three-month ban from all World Anti-Doping Code-compliant sport following an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) for the presence of a prohibited substance," a UKAD statement said.
"At the time of this announcement, Mr Parker is free to participate in sport."
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