Two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields isn’t happy about how she has been treated. You see, after her victory over Danielle Perkins earlier this month in Michigan, Shields tested positive for marijuana, samples for which were taken via mouth swab. The Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission immediately suspended the unbeaten boxer. 

“Ms. Shields’ conduct as a licensed professional boxer constitutes an immediate threat to the integrity of professional boxing, the public interest, and the welfare and safety of professional athletes,” the Michigan commission wrote in a statement. Meanwhile, the president of the Association of Boxing Commissions Michael Mazzuli condemned the move. 

He labeled the statement from the Michigan Commission “overkill” while demanding Michigan present its findings. “We would like to know what the amount of marijuana in the system was – the nanogram level,” Mazzuli said. “My understanding is it was a swab test – therefore, there is no nanogram level.”

“We feel the fighter should not be stripped of any title. In fact, numerous states and tribal commissions no longer test for marijuana and mine [the Mohegan Sun (Connecticut) commission] is one of them. The sport has to change with the industry and today’s standards,” he added. Sometime after the report, Shields hopped on to share her thoughts.

Shields expressed her gratitude for Mazzuli’s support. “Thank you! This is not how you treat a 2x Olympic Champ & 17x World champion,” she wrote. Meanwhile, Shields’ manager has also commented on the matter.

Claressa Shields’ situation is absurd, claims her manager

Claressa Shields’ manager, Mark Taffet, has slammed the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission for calling the undefeated champion “an imminent threat to the integrity of professional boxing” over a marijuana-related suspension. Taffet called the statement “absurd” and criticized the commission for making such claims before a proper hearing. “Harmful, dangerous, horrifically inappropriate statement by a government [agency] prior to a hearing. I am incredulous,” he wrote on Facebook.

Shields, who became boxing’s first undisputed women’s heavyweight champion after defeating Danielle Perkins on February 2, denied using marijuana. Performance-enhancing drug expert Victor Conte suggested the failed test “likely would have come from second-hand smoke in the arena.” Marijuana is not considered a performance-enhancing drug and is not banned in most U.S. states. Taffet questioned Michigan’s process, stating, “We respect the process … why don’t they?” as the controversy continues to unfold.

That being said, Claressa Shields has found herself in the middle of quite the controversy, as mouth swabs revealed marijuana usage. However, what are your thoughts on the situation?