U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has seemingly reacted to a suspension from the Olympic team after testing positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana.
On Thursday, Richardson tweeted, “I am human,’ as reports began to circulate online.
Richardson won the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on June 19. The positive test result would nullify her win and could lead to a one-month or longer suspension from the sport.
The Jamaica Gleaner first reported the news.
On Friday morning, Sha’Carri was interviewed in the “TODAY Show.”
Now the fourth-placed finisher in the 100m at the USA Olympic Trials, Jenna Prandini, will replace Richardson in the event at the Olympics. Gabby Thomas, who placed fifth, has also been entered.
Classified as a “substance of abuse” by the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code, cannabis carries a maximum four-year ban. If it is proven that the drug is “unrelated to sport performance,” the ban could be reduced to a maximum of three months. If the athlete undergoes a drug treatment program, the ban could then be reduced to a month.
According to USADA, marijuana is a banned substance because it can heighten performance, it poses a health risk to athletes, and its use dishonors the essence of the sport.
Sadly, her chances of performing at this Olympics are looking bleak — but we remain hopeful Richardson makes it to Tokyo.
Richardson was on track to become the first American woman to win the Olympic 100m title since Gail Devers in 1996. She clocked a time of 10.72 seconds in April. She has executed an impressive five runs under 11 seconds this season.
“Nobody knows what I go through,” she said after qualifying for the Olympics. “Everybody has struggles and I understand that. When y’all see me on this track and y’all see the poker face that I put on but nobody but them and my coach knows what I go through on a day-to-day and I’m highly grateful of them. Without them there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’Carri Richardson, so my family is my everything, my everything ’til the day I’m done.”
We are still rooting for her.
