Heavyweight champ says positive drugs test a ‘real surprise’

• Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has spoken out after failing a drugs test to deny taking any prohibited substance.
• A routine test by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) on the day of the New Zealander’s October fight against Fabio Wardley returned an adverse result, reportedly for cocaine.
• Parker said on Instagram that the result was a “real surprise” and he is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation, confident it will clear his name.
• The 33-year-old had put his mandatory challenger status for Oleksandr Usyk on the line against Wardley, suffering an 11th-round stoppage defeat.
• Parker's promotional company, Queensberry, confirmed VADA's notification of the adverse finding but said that no further comment would be made during the investigation.