Sha’Carri Richardson will not be competing in the Tokyo Olympics at all this month after the Olympic roster was released Tuesday by USA Track and Field — and her name was nowhere in sight.
Richardson’s tested positive for marijuana, a banned substance, and was given a 30-day ban. She would have been eligible before the start of the relays on Aug. 5 and could have nabbed a medal as part of the 4×100 relay team.
“First and foremost, we are incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances and strongly applaud her accountability — and will offer her our continued support both on and off the track,” a Tuesday statement from officials at USATF said.
“While USATF fully agrees that the merit of the World Anti-Doping Agency rules related to THC should be reevaluated, it would be detrimental to the integrity of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field if USATF amended its policies following competition, only weeks before the Olympic Games,” USATF adds.
Marijuana has become legal in several states across the country, including Richardson’s state of Texas. People question why marijuana is even a banned substance as it has not been proven to enhance performance.
Richardson took to Twitter to express her frustration:
“The attention that is on track now and was because of very very few names. So if that’s where fans support lay, you can’t be mad at that,” she tweeted.
After testing positive, Richardson apologized to the nation, explaining that she had recently learned the news that her biological mother had passed. Many are feeling the Tokyo Olympics are beginning to seem very anti-Black. Several Black female athletes have been banned. The upcoming event has garnered unwanted attention after banning a Black-owned swimming cap company, Soul Cap, from being used as official swimming gear.
