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Joseph Parker has vehemently professed his innocence, suggesting he was contaminated, and hopes a judgement for his failed drug test will soon allow him to resume his boxing career.
Parker failed a voluntary fight-day anti-doping test following his 11th-round stoppage defeat to British heavyweight Fabio Wardley last November after trace elements of cocaine were detected in his system.
Other than issuing a statement expressing his surprise at the test result, and stating he did not take a prohibited or performance-enhancing substance, Parker has since stayed silent on the issue while cooperating with UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
In Auckland on Thursday, though, while co-promoting David Nyika’s IBF world cruiserweight title eliminator against Floyd Masson at the North Shore’s Eventfinda Stadium on August 8, Parker opened up to share his side of the drug case story.
“From what happened in the last fight I’m innocent from any wrongdoing,” Parker told the Herald.
“Whatever people say or think I do not care. I’ve done nothing wrong and I’m waiting for a judgement from UKAD. I’ve given all the evidence that we can provide from our team so we’re just waiting for a judgement they give.
“I got contaminated. I’m not sure by who. It’s either someone I know or I’m not sure. It’s one of those weird things.
“I did four drug tests in camp and passed them all and then I fail on fight day. Who in their right mind would take drugs on fight day, especially when you’ve had the best camp of your life?
“People don’t understand that. They think this and that. I’ve come to a place where I do not care what people think about me any more.”
NZ Herald
