Joseph Parker cleared to return to boxing after failed test; Raven Chapman in hospital following sparring collapse
Former world champion Joseph Parker said in a statement on Wednesday he had been cleared to fight again after failing a voluntary dope test last October on the day he fought and lost to Britain’s Fabio Wardley.
Parker, 34, who held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 to 2018, had denied taking a prohibited substance and faced the prospect of a two-year ban. Reports at the time indicated he had tested positive for traces of cocaine, though Parker has disputed having taken a banned drug.
Robert Smith, general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, confirmed that Parker’s provisional suspension had been lifted but gave no further details. Parker said in his statement: "I’m pleased to confirm my provisional suspension is lifted and I’ll be back in the ring soon," and added he had been advised to say no more for now while details are finalised.
Separately, British boxer Raven Chapman has been taken to hospital after collapsing following a sparring session in Denmark on Friday, July 24, and has undergone emergency surgery for a bleed on the brain. Emergency services were called, she was airlifted to a local hospital and diagnosed with a brain haematoma and cerebral oedema.
Chapman, 32, was placed in a medically induced coma after the operation; her management said she has been taken off sedatives in the past 24 hours and is awaiting medically supervised repatriation to a hospital in the UK. A GoFundMe page has been launched to raise money for her care.
Vote Boxing, Chapman’s management company, said: "Raven underwent emergency surgery immediately. The procedure successfully stopped the bleeding and helped stabilise the swelling. She was then placed in a medically induced coma." The statement added that her rehabilitation in the UK is expected to take some time and that doctors are doing everything they can to support her recovery.
Norwich-born Chapman has won 10 professional fights with two losses, one of those being her October 2024 defeat to Skye Nicolson for world honours, and she fought for the WBC world featherweight title in 2024. She was previously tied to Queensberry Promotions and their founder Frank Warren wrote on X: "Raven is fully in my thoughts this morning, I’m really hoping she can pull through and get home safely. Everyone at Queensberry is behind you Raven, we’re all hoping you can pull through this."
Parker said his provisional suspension had been lifted and that he would return to the ring soon, while Chapman remains under medical care and is awaiting medically supervised repatriation to a UK hospital for rehabilitation.