Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker has been named as one of five fighters to have missed a mandatory drug test this year, according to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
However, Parker's promoters claim the discretion is simply a result of his failure to advise the relevant authorities of an extended holiday following his bout against Romanian Razvan Cojanu in May.
The South Aucklander missed a test after the win against Cojanu, his maiden defence of his WBO title, because of a late change of plans which resulted in him spending longer than he originally planned on holiday in Samoa, claims a Duco spokesperson.
"Joseph extended his holiday following the Cojanu bout on May 6 and didn't update the Vada system of his change of plans," he told Fairfax.
"A couple of weeks ago drug testers went to his residence in Las Vegas and he had said he was going to be in camp there but he had changed his plans and was in Samoa at the time.
"There is no hiding it's an oversight."
VADA, one of the sport's four sanctioning bodies, states on their website that any athlete who misses two or more tests is liable for removal from the programme.
Parker's promoters insist that won't eventuate and that a missed test doesn’t, by any means, equate to a positive result.
"A missed test doesn't mean you've been doping, it just means you've been careless.
"In this case it's just that Joseph didn't update the Vada system and he was on holiday at the time. There is no hiding the fact he missed a drug test and he has to take it on the chin.
"Joseph is back in camp in Vegas for the next eight weeks and Vada can stop by at any time of the day or night if they want to see him."
Parker will next fight Hughie Fury in Manchester on September 23.
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