Claressa Shields Suspended For Testing Positive For Cannabis After Michigan Boxing Match

Undisputed women’s heavyweight boxing champion Claressa Shields has been suspended after failing a drug test over alleged cannabis use.

Per USA Today

Claressa Shields has been suspended by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission after testing positive for marijuana following her win over heavyweight Danielle Perkins earlier this month, according to reports.

Shields, 29, tested positive for the banned substance via an “oral fluid sample” following her win over Perkins on Feb. 3, Sky News and BBC reported on Thursday, prompting the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission to open an investigation. Shields, a native of Flint, Michigan, will not be able to compete in Michigan while suspended.

“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,” the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission said in a statement to Sky News.

The suspension comes less than a month after Shields made history and became the first boxer, male or female, to win undisputed titles in three different weight classes after defeating Perkins by unanimous decision on Feb. 3 at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and women’s boxing champion, moved to 16-0 with three TKOs with the win.

Shields responded to the news of her suspension on X (formerly Twitter), writing, she’s “never smoked weed.” She continued, “It was marijuana, no PEDs. … it’s a temporary suspension (until) I go to trial for the very petite amount.”

In another tweet, she added, “And still the UNDISPUTED WOMENS HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!”