Congratulation Claressa Shields Cleared to Fight Again as Boxing Suspension Ends Officially After She expressed her frustration
Claressa Shields has had her doping suspension officially removed following her February 2nd win against Danielle Perkins after she tested positive for cannabis. But despite her reinstatement, the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission has left the door open for future action against her in the form of a fine or reversal of her victory
Shields, commonly referred to as the Greatest Woman of All Time (GWOAT) of boxers, defeated Perkins in a one-sided unanimous decision on February 2, 2025. Post-fight testing for drugs was routine and detected the presence of traces of marijuana in her body, and the MUCC provisionally suspended her. She was cited as posing “an imminent threat to the integrity of professional boxing, the public interest, and the welfare and safety of professional athletes“
Shields denied ever using the drug from the beginning and claimed that she had never smoked it. She suggested that secondhand exposure was perhaps the source of the positive test because there was a pungent smell of marijuana in the fight arena during the night of the contest. Shields came up with a follow-up test of her urine as evidence in her defense, which was negative.
Shields testified on March 6, 2025, to the MUCC during a hearing on compliance, presenting evidence to contest the reasons for her suspension. Based on her case hearing, the commission ruled that she was no longer a threat to the integrity of the sport and the health of the participants. Therefore, on March 14, 2025, the MUCC officially lifted her suspension so that she can continue competing.
READ MORE : Detroit Free Press: Suspending Michigan Boxer Claressa Shields For Marijuana is…
Shields expressed her frustration about the issue on social media using X Officially unsuspended! Y’all are kinda quiet now! Y’all was mighty loud about me ‘supposedly’ smokin’ weed and gettin’ suspended! No worries! And still an undisputed heavyweight champ!
Her answer reflects growing controversy surrounding the regulations of cannabis in professional sport, particularly in states where the drug is legal. Whilst cannabis is legal to consume in Michigan, it remains banned in competition under rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency that were at the center of Shields’ disciplinary case.
Despite her suspension being lifted, Shields’ case is not settled as the MUCC has announced that the enforcement action is not entirely concluded. This would mean she can be subjected to additional penalties like being fined or her victory being converted into a no-contest result.
Shields’ case is not unique in professional sport. There have been controversies in the UFC, NFL, and other combat sports too where players have been suspended for the use of marijuana even as the drug becomes more decriminalized.
Worth note also are the instances of UFC fighter Nick Diaz and NFL player Josh Gordon who each were suspended for lengthy periods of time for rule infractions because of cannabis use, sparking controversy as to whether organizations like WADA should reconsider their position.
