Claressa Shields, recognized as the top pound-for-pound female boxer globally, faces provisional suspension from boxing by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission due to a positive marijuana test. The commission obtained this result from an oral fluid sample collected after her fight on February 2 against Danielle Perkins, where Shields achieved a unanimous decision victory, solidifying her status as the first-ever women’s undisputed heavyweight champion. This win also made her the only three-division undisputed champion in the history of the four-belt era.
The Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission stated that Shields’ actions represent a threat to the integrity of professional boxing and the safety of athletes. In her public response, Shields asserted that she has never used marijuana. Typically, a suspension from one commission leads to a fighter being listed on the Association of Boxing Commissions’ suspension list, which impacts their ability to compete in other states due to reciprocity rules.
However, Shields’ situation appears to be an exception. Andy Foster, head of the California State Athletic Commission, confirmed that Shields is still eligible to fight in California. While the World Anti-Doping Agency includes marijuana on its list of banned substances for athletes during competitions, it is not classified as a performance-enhancing drug. The governance of marijuana use among athletes remains a contentious issue.
In a related matter, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) has requested that Shields provide an explanation regarding the presence of marijuana in her system and why her title should not be revoked. It is essential to note that while the WBO can influence title retention, it does not have the authority to prevent Shields from competing entirely.
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