Claressa Shields’ Integrity Questioned Amidst Marijuana Test Controversy

The captivating journey of Claressa Shields, a boxing icon, has taken an unexpected turn. Celebrated as a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-time undisputed world champion, Shields, at 29, is now confronting a challenge that strikes at the core of her reputation: the possibility of a positive marijuana test despite her claims of abstinence.

Shields asserts that this unsettling scenario unfolded after her recent victory over Danielle Perkins on February 2nd at the Dort Financial Center in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. While the official drug test results remain undisclosed, Shields has revealed that a saliva test detected trace amounts of marijuana, a substance prohibited for professional fighters during competition in Michigan.

The news came as a devastating blow just ten days after Shields’ dominant performance against Perkins, a fight that solidified her undefeated record at 16-0 and elevated her to the status of undisputed heavyweight champion. The Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission (MUCC), the regulatory body for boxing in the state, promptly suspended her. This disciplinary action carries significant weight, as it is typically recognized and enforced by other states.

However, Shields will soon have the opportunity to contest the decision. Her lawyer, David Slutsker, has announced that a pre-hearing meeting is scheduled for March 6th before an assistant attorney general. During this meeting, Shields will formally request the revocation of her suspension. "We will present evidence and be open to any questioning they have," Slutsker told USA TODAY Sports. The outcome of this meeting will determine whether a formal hearing will follow.

In the interim, Shields is facing a 90-day suspension, the potential for a fine, and emerging claims regarding her possible exposure to the drug.

Intriguingly, Shields was not the only boxer on the February 2nd card to test positive for marijuana. Dmitry Salita, the promoter of the event, and Shields’ attorney, Slutsker, have confirmed that eight of the sixteen boxers on the card underwent swab drug tests, and three tested positive for marijuana. This unusually high number for a single boxing event, particularly one featuring elite athletes like Claressa Shields, has raised eyebrows.

Salita emphasized the need for a thorough review of the testing protocols to ensure consistency and fairness in light of these circumstances.

Joe Hicks, a middleweight boxer from Michigan with a professional record of 12-0, corroborated the positive marijuana test result. Hicks expressed concern about the potential repercussions, as his employment with an insurance company prohibits the use of any drugs without a prescription. He was taken aback by the news, stating, "I don’t take drugs." Hicks also expressed surprise upon learning that Shields had tested positive.

Hicks offered a possible explanation for the positive tests, suggesting that marijuana smoke inside the Dort Financial Center in Flint might have been the culprit. He described the atmosphere as saturated with marijuana smoke, stating, "Oh man, it was everywhere… I’m not exaggerating… When you go in the bathroom, it’s just a big cloud of smoke that hits you. You smell nothing but marijuana."

While marijuana is legal in Michigan, it is prohibited at the Dort Financial Center. Salita and Shields’ manager, Mark Taffet, also noted the pervasive smell. Taffet described the hallways as smelling "horrible… Like where (Shields) took the post-fight (drug) test, that sort of ring of hallway around the building, that smelled terrible." Jeremy Torrey, the general manager of the Dort Financial Center, declined to comment.

The question of whether secondhand smoke can cause a non-smoker to test positive for THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana, is a complex one. A 2015 study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology examined the effects of extreme cannabis smoke exposure on drug-free non-smokers. The study reported that positive tests for THC in oral fluid and blood were obtained for non-smokers up to three hours following exposure. However, the study also concluded that 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 found that passive exposure to cannabis smoke in an unventilated room can produce a transient appearance of THC in oral fluid for up to 30 minutes. The study also acknowledged that factors such as room size and the extent of smoke exposure can affect results.

Salita has stated that the amount of marijuana detected in Shields’ test was negligible and consistent with potential secondhand exposure rather than personal use.

While Shields has stated that the saliva test revealed trace levels of marijuana in her system, she has not publicly released the test results.

Victor Conte, who describes himself as a dietary supplement and training advisor for Shields, has stated that the boxer expressed concerns about the administration of her saliva test after the fight.

According to Conte, Shields reported that the drug testing kit was torn before the test was administered. Conte also stated that the test administrator did not have a backup kit and used a towel to attempt to hold the kit together. "I don’t want to get into all the irregularities," Conte said, adding, "They didn’t follow protocol."

Shields’ association with Conte has drawn criticism due to his involvement in the BALCO steroids scandal, which tarnished the reputations of numerous professional athletes. Conte has since rebranded himself as an advocate for anti-doping and works with several champion boxers, including Terence Crawford.

Shields is sponsored by SNAC, Conte’s supplement company, and the agreement includes financial support, according to Conte.

Conte has indicated that another issue likely to be raised at the hearing is Michigan’s use of saliva tests.

James Fitzgerald, head of media relations for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), has stated that swab tests have several disadvantages compared to urine and blood analysis. He noted that they are less accurate, do not allow quantitative analysis, are more limited in the number of substances that can be identified, and are more prone to contamination. He added that they have never been considered robust enough for the level of scientific quality required under the World Anti-Doping Code.

Abby Rubley, director of communications for Michigan’s licensing and regulatory affairs, stated that the MUCC contracts a third-party testing company to provide the oral fluid drug tests for immediate post-contest testing. She stated that these tests are processed by a globally recognized laboratory with appropriate controls and procedures. She also stated that a positive specimen is always independently verified by a medical review officer to determine if the positive result has a legitimate medical explanation and to ensure the accuracy of the testing process. Additionally, she stated that oral fluid testing is best at detecting recent drug use, which aligns with the purpose of drug testing laws and rules to prevent individuals with controlled substances from competing in unarmed combat events.

However, Shields’ manager posted a lab result on Facebook indicating that a urine test taken by Shields on February 8th, six days after the post-fight saliva test, detected no marijuana in her system.

According to Mayo Clinic Laboratories, marijuana can be detected in urine for between three and 30 days after use and in saliva for up to 24 hours after use. Shields stated on Instagram that she immediately scheduled a follow-up urine test after receiving the saliva test result to ensure complete clarity.

Hicks also paid for a urine test to clear his name. The results, shared with USA TODAY Sports, showed no marijuana in Hicks’ system based on a urine sample collected on February 14th, two weeks after the event.

WADA tests for marijuana and allows a threshold of 150 ng/mL, which is approximately 50 times the amount that Shields’ camp has said was detected in her system. However, the Michigan boxing commission has no allowable limit.

Marijuana is legal for recreational and medicinal use in Michigan, but it is prohibited for contestants at boxing events because the drug is illegal under federal law, according to Weatherspoon.

The Michigan commission posts a list of prohibited substances on its website.

Mike Mazzulli, president of the Association of Boxing Commissions, has stated that numerous state boxing commissions no longer test for marijuana. This change has occurred as the legalization of marijuana for recreational use has expanded to 24 states.

Salita has stated that Shields has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs or marijuana. He also stated that before the February fight, Shields was enrolled for testing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which uses urine and blood tests. These tests confirmed that both fighters tested negative for PEDs. 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. "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."