The New Zealand boxer, 34, tested positive for benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine – in a sample collected on 26 October 2025, one day after his dramatic 11th-round defeat by British heavyweight Fabio Wardley, 31, at London’s O2 Arena.
Joseph denied knowingly taking cocaine or any banned substance and provided UK Anti-Doping with evidence arguing the adverse finding resulted from contamination involving a nutritionist he had employed in preparation for the fight.
A statement said: “Mr Parker provided UKAD with evidence claiming that the AAF (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.”
Joseph had worked with the nutritionist since 2023 and maintained throughout the investigation that he had not knowingly taken an illegal or prohibited substance.
UKAD said an independent expert determined that Joseph’s ingestion of cocaine occurred “out of competition”.
The anti-doping body said it was satisfied the incident had happened “in a context unrelated to sport performance”.
Joseph had initially been provisionally suspended after the positive test emerged following his defeat by Fabio, but UKAD subsequently lifted that suspension and offered the New Zealander a three-month ban.
The period was considered to have already been served between November 2025 and February 2026, when Joseph was out of the ring while the investigation continued.
Joseph accepted the sanction in July and has now been cleared to resume his boxing career.
He said: “I’m pleased to confirm my provisional suspension is lifted and I’ll be back in the ring soon.
“I’ve been advised to say no more for now while details are finalised. Thank you to all my supporters.”
The development clears the way for another comeback for Joseph, whose career has included holding the WBO heavyweight world title between 2016 and 2018 and sharing the ring with some of the division’s biggest names.
He won the vacant WBO crown by defeating Andy Ruiz Jr, before later losing the belt against Anthony Joshua, 36, in a heavyweight unification fight in Cardiff.
Joseph has also faced Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora, Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, during a career that has kept him among the leading names in the heavyweight division.
His victory over Deontay in Saudi Arabia in December 2023 was followed by a majority-decision win against Zhilei three months later, strengthening Joseph’s position among the leading heavyweight contenders.
The fight with Fabio at the O2 Arena last October had offered Joseph another route towards the top of the division.
Fabio stopped him in the 11th round after landing a succession of unanswered punches, with the referee intervening while Joseph remained on his feet.
The result cost Joseph his WBO interim heavyweight title and put Fabio in position for a world-title opportunity. Fabio subsequently became world champion before facing Daniel Dubois, 28, in another major all-British heavyweight contest.
Joseph’s name has remained prominent during his enforced spell away from competition. He continued training during his absence and spent time in Thailand alongside former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, as he prepared to return once his anti-doping situation was resolved.
The New Zealander is now free to fight again after UKAD’s decision, having spent the period since his defeat by Fabio outside the ring.
