Claressa Shields’ positive marijuana test leads to boxing suspension and probe

Boxing star Claressa Shields has been suspended by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission after testing positive for marijuana. The three-weight undisputed champion, 29, tested positive for the drug via an ‘oral fluid sample’ after her win over Danielle Perkins on February 3.

Shields now faces a probe from the Michigan Commission while the World Boxing Organization (WBO) has requested a ‘show notice’ from the fighter. Marijuana is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with Shields strongly insisting last week that she was a ‘clean athlete’ on social media.

In a statement, the Michigan Commission said: ‘Ms Shields’ conduct as a licensed professional boxer constitutes an imminent threat to the integrity of professional boxing, the public interest, and the welfare and safety of professional athletes.’.

Shields’ victory over Perkins in Michigan earlier this month was historic as she became the first boxer – male or female – to win undisputed titles in three different weights in the four-belt era. The American is a two-time Olympic gold medallist with middleweight triumphs at London 2012 and Rio 2016 respectively.

It should be noted that while the WBO has asked Shields to explain herself, the sanctioning body does not have the power to suspend fighters. Shields, undefeated in 16 professional bouts, was left delighted after she made boxing history against heavyweight Perkins this month.

‘It feels unbelievable,’ she said. ‘I had a really hard training camp. And just last Friday I tore my labrum in my left shoulder, so I wasn’t able to use my good jab. ‘But I didn’t want to call the fight off because I had asked God to give me a big fight in my hometown. He did that. So I decided to keep going through with it.

‘I feel so happy. And shout out to my opponent, Danielle Perkins. Man, that girl was strong as hell.’. Shields often refers to herself as the ‘GWOAT’ – Greatest Woman of All Time. ‘I believe that I decided I was the ‘Greatest Woman of All Time’ when I won my second Olympics,’ Shields told DAZN’s Off the Cuff in 2023.

‘People talking about things that are impossible, what they told me was winning two Olympic gold medals in boxing is near impossible. ‘So, when I won, you all said I couldn’t do that, and I did so that day I was like ‘I am the Greatest Woman of All Time’. I just told the world.

‘And from that day I have pushed myself to just be better, to live up to that standard because Muhammad Ali always proved the doubters wrong.’. Arrow MORE: Drug dealer can stay in the UK after making bizarre promise. Arrow MORE: Man who got high and said he could dodge a bullet dies from gunshot wound.