Joseph Parker to return to ring after ban lifted

7 August 2026 – Boxer Joseph Parker is ready to take his frustrations out in the ring after nine months suspension following a positive test for cocaine last October.

Speaking at an event to promote this weekend’s IBF cruiserweight world title eliminator fight in Auckland, Parker said having the suspension lifted was a huge relief.

“It’s a good feeling. I’ve waited to get my name cleared and be back fighting. The details are being finalised and something will be released very soon, but for now, the provisional suspension’s been lifted, so that’s great news for us.”

Parker said the time away from the sport came at a significant cost, though had a silver lining.

“Damaging to the name but also damaging to the career.

“But I’m ready to get back now, and I’m ready to fight. Once I lock in a fight, I’m going to put in some time to be the best prepared I can be, and then I just want to go out there and do the best I can.”

A day after he announced his ban has been lifted, the UK Anti-Doping authorities 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”.

The statement added: “On 6 March 2026, Mr Parker provided UKAD with evidence claiming that the adverse analytical finding was the result of his exposure to cocaine used by the nutritionist he had employed in preparation for the bout on 25 October 2025.

“The nutritionist stated that he was a regular user of cocaine and had used cocaine daily in the week leading up to the bout.”

Parker was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) on 25 October.

On the same day, he was also beaten by Briton Wardley at London’s O2 Arena.

Parker also failed a UKAD test in the early hours of 26 October.

UKAD added it had found in June that Parker’s cocaine ingestion had occurred out of competition and therefore was “in a context unrelated to sport performance”, therefore lifting his previous suspension.

Parker’s professional record stands at 36 wins and four defeats.