United Stated sprinter, Sha’Carri Richardson will not be part of the country’s relay team to compete at Tokyo Olympics this year, due to her one-suspension after failing drug test.
This news comes after Richardson tested positive for marijuana in a test conducted at U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.
Read Also: US Sprinter, Sha’Carri Richardson Tests Positive For Cannabis, Could Miss Tokyo Olympics – Report
USATF in a statement stated;
While USATF fully agrees that the merit of the World Anti-Doping Agency rules related to THC [a chemical in marijuana] should be reevaluated, it would be detrimental to the integrity of the US Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field if USATF amended its policies following competition, only weeks before the Olympic Games.
All USATF athletes are equally aware of and must adhere to the current anti-doping code, and our credibility as the National Governing Body would be lost if rules were only enforced under certain circumstances.
Richardson was left out despite her one-month suspension ending before the games.
Gabby Thomas, English Gardner and Aleia Hobbs were listed for the 4x100m relay pool. The women’s 100 meter event will consist of Javianne Oliver, Teahna Daniels Jenna Pradini and Thomas.
Richardson, won the women’s 100 meter final in 10.86 seconds at U.S. Olympic Trials in Oregon last month.
The 21-year-old was expected to be one of the biggest stars at the upcoming Tokyo Games. However, last week USATF announced the runner would be suspended for a month after the drug test.
A few days before the trials, Richardson learned about her mother’s death during an interview with a reporter, an event she called “triggering” and “nerve-shocking.”
She later ingested marijuana while in Oregon.
Richardson was slated to compete in the 200 meters at Stockholm Diamond League on July 4 but withdrew from the meet this week.
In an interview on Friday with the Today Show, Richardson said she used marijuana, which is legal in Oregon, to cope with the recent revelation during an interview that her biological mother was dead, which left her “in a state of emotional panic.”
She stated;
Right now, I’m just putting all of my energy into dealing with what I need to do to heal myself. If I’m allowed to receive that blessing, then I’m grateful for it. But if not, right now, I’m going to just focus on myself. I want to take responsibility for my actions. I’m not looking for an excuse.
If USATF would have granted Richardson the opportunity to participate, the ban would not have prevented her from participating in 4×100 meter relay.
USA Track and Field issued the following statement regarding Richardson not being selected for the 4×100 meter relay, saying;
First and foremost, we are incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances and strong applaud her accountability—and will offer her our continued support both on and off the track.
Marijuana is banned by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in competition period. The threshold for an athlete to have THC in their system in competition without it causing a positive test is 150 nanograms per milliliter.
THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that produces the high sensation. It can be consumed by smoking cannabis.
According to WADA;
Athletes who smoke cannabis or Spice in-competition potentially endanger themselves and others because of increased risk taking, slower reaction times and poor executive function or decision making.
In June, USADA announced that sprinter Kahmari Montgomery was suspended for one month following a positive marijuana test during an in-competition test at a meet in Florida.
Montgomery’s suspension was only one month because it was out-of-competition cannabis use and was unrelated to his sports performance. He also completed a counseling program.
Richardson‘s use also occurred out of competition and was unrelated to sports performance. She also already successfully completed a counseling program regarding her cannabis use.
The sprinter was looking to become the United States’ first gold medalist in the 100 meters since 1996. She burst onto the scene winning the 2019 NCAA title in a collegiate record of 10.75 seconds. She lowered that personal best to 10.72 in April for the sixth-fastest wind-legal time ever.
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has the fastest time in the world in 2021 with a 10.63 from earlier in June. She is looking to win her third Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters after winning in ‘08 and ‘12.
The Tokyo Games are set to begin on July 23 and run through August 8.
