Latest news with #MichiganUnarmedCombatCommission
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World champion Shields' doping suspension lifted
Three-weight undisputed world champion Claressa Shields has had her doping suspension lifted. The 29-year-old American tested positive for marijuana following her win over heavyweight Danielle Perkins on 3 February in Michigan. The Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission which provisionally suspended Shields' licence said she "provided evidence" on 6 March and that "her conduct no longer poses an imminent threat to the integrity of the sport, the public interest, or the welfare and safety of a contestant". Shields wrote on X: "Officially unsuspended! "But y'all a little quiet! Ya'll was real loud about me 'supposedly' smoking marijuana and being suspended! "No worries! And still an undisputed heavyweight champ." Although Shields' suspension was dissolved, the commission said that "does not close the enforcement action", meaning she may face further sanctions. She could be fined or have her victory over Perkins overturned as a no-contest. Marijuana is banned in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). Shields denied using marijuana and said the tests showed only "trace" amounts. Boxing schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode
BBC News
15-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
World champion Shields' doping suspension lifted
Three-weight undisputed world champion Claressa Shields has had her doping suspension 29-year-old American tested positive for marijuana following her win over heavyweight Danielle Perkins on 3 February in Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission which provisionally suspended Shields' licence said she "provided evidence" on 6 March and that "her conduct no longer poses an imminent threat to the integrity of the sport, the public interest, or the welfare and safety of a contestant".Shields wrote on X:, external "Officially unsuspended! "But y'all a little quiet! Ya'll was real loud about me 'supposedly' smoking marijuana and being suspended!"No worries! And still an undisputed heavyweight champ."Although Shields' suspension was dissolved, the commission said that "does not close the enforcement action", meaning she may face further sanctions. She could be fined or have her victory over Perkins overturned as a is banned in competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).Shields denied using marijuana and said the tests showed only "trace" amounts.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Claressa Shields shouldn't face marijuana penalty. Michigan must fix regulations.
Michigan is ahead of many other states when it comes to marijuana, and how to stop punishing its users. Voters made cannabis legal for medical use in 2008 and recreational use in 2018. And in 2021, the Clean Slate Act allowed for expungement of pre-2018 marijuana convictions. But the changes have not made their way to the state's regulations around combat sports, leading to last month's ludicrous suspension of one of Michigan's greatest athletes, potentially tarnishing her spotless reputation for clean competition. Claressa Shields, arguably the world's best active boxer, was suspended by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on behalf of the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission after testing positive for a trace amount of marijuana. Shields said via social media that she's never used the drug, and is fighting the suspension. The state's order of suspension absurdly calls Shields' supposed conduct "an imminent threat to the integrity of the sport of professional boxing" and to "the public interest." The conflict between Michigan's marijuana laws and its boxing regulations is an embarrassing oversight that has left the state lagging behind the times, with stricter rules around marijuana detection than the NCAA and the Olympics. Changing that ought to be an easy fix for the Michigan Legislature. More: Claressa Shields says she's never used weed. Did secondhand smoke cause failed drug test? Last month, Claressa Shields became the first human ever to earn the title of undisputed world boxing champion in three different weight classes. If you're not a boxing fan, the incredible nature of that accomplishment may not quite be clear. Professional boxing is run, sloppily, by several different governing bodies: the WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF, which are sort of analogous to football's NFC and the AFC, if there were no NFL, and they didn't really get along. It's incredibly rare for a boxer to arrange and win bouts with all of the fighters wearing the top championship belts issued by each organization. Shields has spent the last eight years traveling the U.S. and the U.K., beating the tar out of all the other champions and contenders, unifying all the belts, moving up in weight and then doing it all again — and again. Along the way, she ventured into an entirely different sport, fighting three times in mixed martial arts, somehow winning twice, including a knockout. Her latest triumph came Feb. 2 in her home town of Flint, where she outboxed, knocked down and soundly defeated a significantly bigger heavyweight, cementing her dominance in a third weight class and her place in the professional boxing history books. Immediately after the fight, a mouth swab drug test was administered ― tests are given at random ― and Shields tested positive for marijuana metabolite, according to an order of suspension issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. While the results of the initial mouth swab haven't been officially released, Shields revealed on social media the test showed 3.4 nanograms per milliliter of marijuana metabolite in her system — considered a miniscule amount by most standards. Two other boxers on the same Feb. 2 card also tested positive for marijuana after fighting, a number the show promoter told USA Today boxing writer Josh Peter is unusual for a single event. One of them, like Shields, also paid for an independent urine test that showed no marijuana in his system, providing those results to Peter. A Free Press writer who covered the event confirmed reports that weed smoke was noticeable throughout the arena that night, and it isn't inconceivable that second-hand exposure may have played a role in those test results. An automatic suspension of Shields' Michigan boxing license was issued Feb. 12 as a result of the positive test, making international news and confusing many who were under the impression Michigan was ahead of the game on marijuana regulation. She's disputing the results of the test, saying via social media that she has never used marijuana and presenting clean results of a urine test taken six days after the fight. If you're tempted to roll your eyes at Shields' insistence that she doesn't partake, consider the two-time Olympic gold medalist has been training at the highest levels since she was 11. Introduced to the sport at the Berston Field House, a storied Flint community center, Shields has maintained the rigorous discipline required to compete in the world's most elite competitions for almost two decades, with a previously unsullied record. State officials say they can't talk about Shields' case because it's still being adjudicated. But it's almost offensive that outdated regulations might land any athlete in this position. While it's hard to argue that marijuana could be a performance-enhancing drug, a case can certainly be made that being high on marijuana during a fight could hinder and endanger a competitor. But no one is making that case. Many sports organizations have changed their rules around testing in recent years to keep with changing perceptions of the drug. The NCAA lifted its ban on cannabis use for college athletes last year, canceling penalties for past violations. The World Anti-Doping Agency, which coordinates drug policy for international sporting events including the Olympics, allows a threshold of 150 ng/ml of marijuana metabolite. That's about about 44 times the amount Shields says she's accused of having in her system. Boxing commissions across the country have also evolved with the times, said Michael Mazzuli, Connecticut-based president of the Association of Boxing Commissions. "There are not many states or tribal commissions that test for marijuana," he said. "... I just don't want it to adversely affect a fighter's career. Their careers are so short." In Michigan, it's legal for anyone over 21 to purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana at a time. But state law still classifies "marihuana" as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, Schedule 2 "if it is manufactured, obtained, stored, dispensed, possessed, grown, or disposed of" legally. And the law that governs unarmed combat in Michigan simply bars competitors and officials in boxing and mixed martial arts from having any presence of a controlled substance in their systems during a bout. Any positive test results, regardless of the amount, result in an automatic suspension processed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on behalf of the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission. The commission is made up of 11 unpaid members appointed by the governor who meet several times a year, typically voting to approve previously negotiated penalties for fighters accused of violating state rules. Members of the commission don't weigh in immediately on a drug-related suspension, but could ultimately decide Shields' fate. If the results of the drug test and the suspension are upheld, the commission could levy fines or impose penalties in addition to the suspension. Shields is scheduled for a Thursday meeting with an assistant attorney general, where she'll seek to have her suspension revoked. A hearing with an administrative law judge could follow, said LARA spokesperson Abby Rubley. The commission's next meeting is March 13, but Shields' case is not on the agenda. Even if the results of those mouth swab tests taken the night of the event were ironclad, the presence of tiny amounts of a perfectly legal, non-performance-enhancing drug is no reason to halt the careers of Michigan combat athletes. Michigan boxing fans can only hope that as Shields' fame continues to grow around the world, she'll keep going out of her way to fight in her home state, rather than opting for more lucrative paydays elsewhere. In the meantime — there's got to be a boxing fan somewhere in the state Capitol. Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: kalhajal@ Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MI must fix weed regulations. Shields shouldn't be punished | Opinion
USA Today
01-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Claressa Shields says she's never used weed. Did secondhand smoke cause failed drug test?
Claressa Shields says she's never used weed. Did secondhand smoke cause failed drug test? Show Caption Hide Caption Claressa Shields on the benefits of fighting as a heavyweight Boxer Claressa Shields prepares to take on Danielle Perkins as a heavyweight. She tells USA TODAY Sports the benefits of fighting at that level. The saga of boxer Claressa Shields is unfolding. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. A three-time undisputed world champion. But, at 29, the self-proclaimed "GWOAT" (Greatest Woman Of All-Time) is facing a question involving her integrity. Could Shields have tested positive for marijuana even if she never used the drug? According to Shields, that's what happened after her last boxing match, a victory over Danielle Perkins Feb. 2 at Dort Financial Center in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. The drug test results have not been publicly released, but Shields has said a saliva test detected "trace" amounts of marijuana, a prohibited substance in competition for professional fighters in Michigan. Ten days after dominating Perkins in a fight that improved Shields' record to 16-0 and elevated her to undisputed heavyweight champion came the gut punch. She was suspended by the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission (MUCC), which regulates boxing in the state, and such discipline generally is upheld by other states. But she'll soon get a chance to contest the decision. On March 6, during a pre-hearing meeting before an assistant attorney general, Shields will request her suspension be revoked, according to her lawyer, David Slutsker. "We will present evidence ... and be open to any questioning they have,'' Slutsker told USA TODAY Sports. Depending on the outcome, a formal hearing could follow. For now, Shields faces a 90-day suspension, a possible fine and newly surfaced claims about her possible exposure to the drug. Other boxers tested positive Shields was not the only boxer on the Feb. 2 card to test positive for marijuana. Eight of the 16 boxers on that night's card were drug tested by swab, and three tested positive for marijuana, according to Dmitry Salita, the promoter of the show, and Shields' attorney, Slutsker. "That number is highly unusual for a single boxing event, particularly one featuring Claressa and other elite athletes,'' Salita said. "Given the circumstances, it's important to review the testing protocols to ensure consistency and fairness.'' Joe Hicks, a middleweight from Michigan, confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that he tested positive for marijuana. Salita said the other boxer who tested positive for marijuana was Skylar Lacy, a heavyweight from Indiana, who did not respond to USA TODAY Sports' requests for comment left by voicemail, text message and social media. Hicks, who is 12-0 as a pro boxer, said he worried about potential consequences because he works for an insurance company where "you can lose your job for taking any drugs without a prescription. "When they called, I was, like, wow," he said of learning of the results. "I don't take drugs." Adding he was also surprised to hear Shields tested positive, Hicks speculated that marijuana smoke inside the Dort Financial Center in Flint triggered the positive tests. "Oh man, it was everywhere," he said. "I'm not exaggerating. ... I was getting dressed to take pictures with my family; it was like a big cloud of weed. When you go in the bathroom, it's just a big cloud of smoke that hits you. You smell nothing but marijuana." Marijuana is legal in Michigan but banned at Dort Financial Center. However, Salita and Shields' manager, Mark Taffet, said the smell was noticeable. "The hallways smelled horrible," Taffet said. "... Like where (Shields) took the post-fight (drug) test, that sort of ring of hallway around the building, that smelled terrible." Jeremy Torrey, general manager of the Dort Financial Center, declined to comment to USA TODAY Sports. Secondhand smoke a risk? Whether secondhand smoke can cause a non-smoker to test positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that produces a psychoactive effect, depends on the exposure conditions, according to a 2015 study published in Journal of Analytical Toxicology. The study, which focused on "extreme cannabis smoke exposure conditions tolerable to drug-free nonsmokers,'' reported, "Positive tests for THC in oral fluid and blood were obtained for nonsmokers up to (three hours) following exposure.'' But the study also concluded, "positive tests are likely to be rare, limited to the hours immediately post-exposure, and occur only under environmental circumstances where exposure is obvious.'' A 2004 study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology reported, "Passive exposure to cannabis smoke in an unventilated room has been shown to produce a transient appearance of THC in oral fluid for up to 30 (minutes). However, it is well known that such factors as room size and extent of smoke exposure can affect results.'' Salita, the promoter, said, "The amount detected was negligible and consistent with potential secondhand exposure rather than personal use.'' Shields had said the saliva test showed "trace" levels of marijuana in her system, but she has not publicly released the test results. What Shields may challenge Victor Conte, who describes himself as a "dietary supplement and training adviser'' for Shields, said the boxer told him she had concerns about how her saliva test was administered after her fight Feb. 2. According to Conte, Shields told him the drug testing kit was torn before the test was administered. Conte also said Shields told him the man who administered the test had no backup kit and used a towel to "push it back together.'' "I don't want to get into all the irregularities,'' Conte said, adding, "They didn't follow protocol.'' Shields has drawn criticism for working with Conte, who was the mastermind behind the BALCO steroids scandal that two decades ago tarnished the reputations and accomplishments of Barry Bonds, Marion Jones and dozens of other professional athletes. Conte has since repositioned himself as a leader in the anti-doping movement and works with multiple champion boxers, including Terence Crawford. Shields is sponsored by SNAC, Conte's supplement company, and the deal includes financial support, according to Conte. Conte indicated another issue likely to be addressed at the hearing is Michigan's use of saliva tests, also known as oral fluid tests and conducted with a swab. 'Swab tests have a number of disadvantages compared with urine and blood analysis,'' James Fitzgerald, head of media relations for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), told USA TODAY Sports. 'They are less accurate and do not allow quantitative analysis, more limited in the number of substances that can be identified, and more prone to contaminations. They have never been considered robust enough for the level of scientific quality required under the World Anti-Doping Code.'' How drug testing works in Michigan The MUCC, which regulates boxing in the state, contracts a third-party testing company to provide the "oral fluid" drug tests so a fighter can be tested immediately after the contest, according to Abby Rubley, director of communications for Michigan's licensing and regulatory affairs. The agency assists the MUCC with drug testing and other matters. "These tests are processed by a globally recognized laboratory with all the appropriate controls and procedures in place,'' Rubley said by email. "A positive specimen is always independently verified by a medical review officer to determine if the positive result has a legitimate medical explanation and ensure the accuracy of the testing process. "Additionally, oral fluid testing is best at detecting recent drug use, which supports the overall purpose of the drug testing laws and rules to prevent those with the presence of controlled substances, alcohol, enhancers, etc., from competing in unarmed combat events in this state.'' But last week, Shields' manager posted on Facebook a copy of a lab result indicating Shields took a urine test that detected no marijuana in her system. The urine sample, according to what Shields posted, was collected Feb. 8, six days after the post-fight saliva test showed marijuana in her system. Marijuana can be detected in urine for between three and 30 days after use, according to Mayo Clinic Laboratories, and detected in saliva for up to 24 hours after use, according to the Council on Drugs and Alcohol. "The moment I received the saliva test result, I acted immediately to schedule a follow-up urine test to ensure complete clarity,'' Shields wrote on Instagram and provided a timeline of the drug testing. In hopes of clearing his name, Hicks said, he also paid for a urine test. A copy of the results shared with USA TODAY Sports shows no marijuana was found in Hicks based on a urine sample collected Feb. 14, two weeks after the event. Confusion in Michigan WADA tests for marijuana and allows a threshold of 150 ng/mL – about 50 times the amount Shields' camp has said drug test results show was in her system. But the Michigan boxing commission has no allowable limit. In Michigan, marijuana is legal for recreational and medicinal use. But according to Weatherspoon, marijuana is prohibited for contestants at boxing events because the drug is illegal under federal law. 'So the fighters, who don't really know about the federal guidelines, they think it's OK,'' Weatherspoon said. The Michigan commission posts a list of prohibited substances on its website. Boxing is regulated state-by-state, and "numerous'' state boxing commissions do not test for marijuana anymore, said Mike Mazzulli, president of the Association of Boxing Commissions. The change has occurred as legalization of marijuana for recreational use has expanded to 24 states. Salita, the promoter, said Shields has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs or marijuana. Before Shields' fight in February, according to Salita, she was enrolled for testing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which uses urine and blood tests. 'The results confirmed both fighters tested negative for PEDs,'' he said. VADA does not test for marijuana. Shields is offering no apologies. "I stand by who I am, a clean athlete with nothing to hide,'' she said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. "While this situation is frustrating, I'm confident the truth will come out. I'm grateful to my family, team, fellow athletes, and everyone who's shown support – your belief in me means everything. I'll continue to fight with pride as the people's champion and The GWOAT."
USA Today
20-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Claressa Shields suspended for testing positive for marijuana after Michigan boxing match
Hear this story 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!" Last week, Shields shot down rumors that she tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug, declaring she's "been a clean athlete all my life." She added, "To ever put my name and PEDS with positive and my name in the sentence is damaging." Although marijuana has been legal in Michigan since late 2018, marijuana is banned from competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
