Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker claimed a failed drugs test that resulted in him being suspended from boxing was caused by exposure to cocaine being used by his nutritionist, according to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).

Parker returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, during a routine UKAD test shortly after his surprise defeat to Fabio Wardley in London on October 25 last year.

The New Zealander, who has throughout the saga denied taking any prohibited substance, announced on Wednesday that his suspension, which could have lasted as long as two years, had been lifted and that he would be “back in the ring soon”.

On Thursday, UKAD officially confirmed Parker was free to resume his career as details of the case were shared, which included the 34-year-old’s explanation for the adverse finding.

A UKAD statement said: “On 6 March 2026, Mr Parker provided UKAD with evidence claiming that the AAF 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.

“Between 14 April 2026 and 3 June 2026, UKAD requested further information from Mr Parker in relation to his explanation for the AAF. Amongst other matters, Mr Parker stated that he had first worked with the same nutritionist in April 2023.”

UKAD explained that a decision had been made to impose a three-month period of ineligibility, which it already considers served, because an independent scientific expert was satisfied that any ingestion of cocaine had occurred out of competition, and therefore in a context unrelated to sporting performance.

The statement said: “On 15 June 2026, UKAD received an independent scientific expert opinion from its instructed expert, which concluded that Mr Parker’s ingestion of cocaine most likely took place out of competition (i.e. before 11:59pm on 24 October 2025).

“On 22 June 2026, UKAD confirmed to Mr Parker that in light of the opinion from its expert, it was satisfied that any ingestion of cocaine occurred out of competition and for that reason would have been in a context unrelated to sport performance.

“Consequently, UKAD lifted Mr Parker’s Provisional Suspension on that date (allowing him to resume his participation in sport with immediate effect) and proposed a three-month period of Ineligibility (deemed served) by way of sanction for his Anti-Doping Rule Violation.”

The scientific expert believed it possible that Parker’s administration of cocaine “may have occurred” from contamination, but also said they could not exclude the possibility the finding had arisen “as the tail end of the administration of a larger pharmacologically active dose of cocaine.”

With the UKAD report, the scientific expert said: “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 giving rise to the finding of benzoylecgonine in Mr Parker’s urine Samples.

“I cannot exclude the possibility that the finding of benzoylecgonine has arisen as the tail end of the administration of a larger pharmacologically active dose of cocaine.”

The result of Parker’s bout against Wardley, which was an 11th-round stoppage victory for the Brit, becomes a defeat by disqualification, rather than knockout.

Parker lost his world title to Anthony Joshua in 2018, but went into his fight against Wardley in arguably the best form of his career.

After a punishing loss to Joe Joyce in 2022, Parker won his next six contests prior, picking up statement wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, as well as winning the WBO Interim strap.

He was due to challenge then-IBF belt-holder Daniel Dubois in February, only for Dubois to fall ill just days before the fight was meant to take place.

Parker put his position as the WBO mandatory challenger to undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk on the line by taking the fight against Wardley, but it was a gamble that backfired.

Barcelona are set to approach Man City for midfielder Rodri and are hopeful they can beat their LaLiga rivals to the signing of the Spain captain, Sky Sports News understands. 

The Spain World Cup winner is wanted by both Spanish giants and has entered the final year of his contract at City.

As reported by Sky Sports News, Real have been in talks with City since last week and indicated they would be prepared to pay £50m.

Barcelona are believed to have received encouragement they stand a good chance of signing the midfielder should Rodri move in this window. Their interest has stepped up in the past 24 hours.

However, City do not want to sell their key player. They are hoping he will agree to a new long-term contract at the Etihad and lead the team into a new era under Enzo Maresca.

Rodri had successful back surgery after the World Cup and is currently recovering. He is expected to miss the Community Shield game against Arsenal and the opening Premier League fixture of the season as a result.

Upon his re-election as Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez was criticised because the club had too few players representing Spain at this summer’s World Cup.

They signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea as the tournament got under way, and everyone at the club are believed to be on board with a move for Rodri next. Madrid are considering their next move which includes whether or not to raise the amount they are willing to pay.

Carra: Don’t sell Rodri for £40-50m!

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:

“£40-50m? If you’re Manchester City, what’s the point in selling them? You might as well just keep them for the extra year.

“He’s as good as anybody in that position in the Premier League, probably the best. Seeing what he was like in the World Cup, it was like he was back to his best.

“I thought the second half of the season him and Bernardo Silva were fantastic and almost took Manchester City to the title.

“So, if I was the manager of Manchester City, I’d be keeping Rodri at that price. It’d have to be something really special to want me to lose arguably the best midfield player in world football.

“I think it’d be really tough for them to win the Premier League without Rodri, even though they’ve got a lot of midfielders. He’s the best, even though they’ve brought Elliot Anderson, who is one who I’m sure will learn off Rodri.

“And for me, I’d see those two as a pair. I see Elliot Anderson as almost the replacement for Bernardo Silva, who’s gone to Real Madrid. So, I think that’d be a big hole. It’d be really difficult to fill.

“When Liverpool won the title under Arne Slot, Rodri got an injury in that season very early on, which helped Liverpool and was to the detriment of Manchester City. So if I was Manchester City, I’d be keeping him and letting him go on a free.

“City paid £60m for him. If they’re getting £40m back now, what can they do with that type of money? Not a lot, really. So, I’d rather keep him.”

How much of a loss would Rodri be to Man City?

Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter:

Massive. Despite his age, and recent injury record, Rodri remains the most complete central midfielder to have operated in the Premier League over the past five years. “The best midfielder in the world by far,” maintains Pep Guardiola.

Under Guardiola, City’s in-play strategy revolved entirely around him, always impressing with his use of the ball and ability to receive in tight situations. He set the tempo for his team and controlled games as a result, doing the same for triumphant Spain this summer.

There is no current player who can condition a game like Rodri, and it is no coincidence City failed to retain their Premier League crown in the two seasons he was injury-plagued.

So, how is he replaced?

In short, he isn’t.

But in Anderson City have got a surrogate of sorts. The England international might not yet be the dictator Rodri is but he can evolve to become something close. As a box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old is putting up numbers that at least mean he is comparable.