(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Claressa Shields isn’t letting any druggie narratives fly about her! The undisputed world champion was iced out of her sport in Michigan earlier this week, per ESPN. The state’s Unarmed Combat Commission moved to suspend and investigate Shields after a saliva swab tested positive for marijuana. Now, the boxer is denying that she ever smoked and clearing the air among her supporters by sharing her two test results.
ESPN reports that officials took Shields’s “oral fluid sample” in early February after her win against Danielle Perkins. At the time, the test indicated the presence of weed–a banned substance in competitive sports. On Thursday (February 20), the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission dragged Claressa Shields in their statement.
“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,” it reportedly stated.
While the Unarmed Combat Commission weighs whether it will take disciplinary action, the World Boxing Organization demands a formal explanation from Shields. Mind you, Claressa is a BIG DAWG in professional boxing. She is the only boxer to hold every major world title, says ESPN, from the WBA to the WBC, IBF, and WBO.
Now that we understand what’s going on let’s get into Claressa clapping back at the marijuana allegations. She seemingly started addressing bubbling reports of her failed test last week. On Valentine’s Day, she replied to a tweet about the topic, writing, “NICE TRY HATERS DONT Ever try and put no bullshit on me. CLEAN ATHLETES WIN,” she wrote. In a separate tweet, she seemingly labeled the drug results dispute a lie.
However, Claressa Shields has been going in the last two days about her alleged innocence. On the 20th, she spoke about why she won’t defend a lie. “On my soul cant nobody tarnish my image. Its a temporary suspension til I go to trial for this very small amount of marijuana. Im not SUSPENDED from Boxing, Im not stripped of my titles. Im just waiting. Also, I cant defend a lie! Do your research,” Shields tweeted.
The boxing champion thanked her supporters the following day for standing by her. She also retweeted a supportive statement from her boxing promoter, Dmitriy Salita, who denied that Claressa uses illicit drugs of any kind.
Late Friday (February 21), Claressa Shields hopped over to Instagram with her drug test results, a timeline, and an explanation. She uploaded the documents about the oral swab test, taken on the third, and the urine test, which was collected on the eighth. As mentioned, the saliva swab yielded a positive result, while the urine showed a negative result. In her caption, she wrote:
“A urine tests the most reliable testing method can detect weed for up to 30 days in your urine, and came back negative. The moment I received the saliva test result, I acted immediately to schedule a follow-up urine test to ensure complete clarity. These results confirm that Ive been clean and in full compliance the entire time. Ive always competed clean, and I stand by that. I take my integrity seriously inside and outside the ring.”
While things are getting heated regarding the ring, the same can be said for Claressa Shields’ life outside it! Though this type of heat seems more than welcomed! The champion and her new bae, Remy Ma’s estranged husband Papoose, were recently spotted still going strong in Hawai’i.
