Reefer madness!
Boxing sensation Claressa Shields tested positive for marijuana in the wake of her victory over Danielle Perkins earlier this month at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. Her manager was quick to slam the controversial testing procedure and maintained his fighter was a clean athlete.
Regulators disagree.
“Miss Shields’ conduct as a licensed professional boxer constitutes an imminent threat to the integrity of professional boxing, the public interests, and the welfare and safety of professional athletes,” Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission (MUCC) wrote in a statement to Sky Sports.
“When the hate don’t work, they start telling lies,” Shields wrote on social media.
Shields, 29, has been suspended indefinitely and will be subject to a continuing investigation. Whether or not the Olympian faces fines and/or disciplinary action remains to be seen, but it’s worth noting that most of the major athletic commissions have removed marijuana from the list of banned substances.
Not all hope is lost.
“Claressa Shields is welcome to fight in California,” Andy Foster of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) told Ariel Helwani.
Expect more updates on this still-developing story in the coming days.