U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has been suspended for a month after testing positive for marijuana following her headline-grabbing performance in the 100-meter qualifying race — a shocking twist ahead of the Tokyo Games.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced the suspension Friday, meaning Ms. Richardson will miss out on the marquee race at the Olympics but might be eligible for a relay later in the games.
“I am human,” Ms. Richardson, 21, tweeted Thursday.
She told NBC News she used marijuana as a way to cope with the death of her biological mother ahead of the qualifiers in Oregon last month.
“It sent me into a state of emotional panic,” Ms. Richardson, who was raised by her grandmother, told the “Today Show.” “I didn’t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time.”
Her qualifying finish of 10.86 seconds in the 100 meters during trials made her a favorite ahead of the games, which begin on July 23.
Now disqualified, U.S. Track and Field notified Jenna Prandini she can run in the 100 meters and that Gabby Thomas will be an alternate.
“This was an independent decision made by the U.S. anti-doping agency and not a decision that would be made by the U.S. government,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “And we will certainly leave them the space and the room to make their decisions about anti-doping policies that need to be implemented. I will also note that Sha’Carri Richardson is an inspiring young woman who has gone through a lot personally and she also happens to be one of the fastest women in the world. And that’s an important part of the story as well.”
Attitudes around cannabis have relaxed dramatically in American society of late but the substance is still prohibited under anti-doping rules for athletes.
Some observers reacted to her suspension with disgust, saying it made little sense to punish her as states legalize the drug, or scoffed at the idea that cannabis could be considered a catalyst for high performance.
“In 2021, at a time when marijuana use is legally accepted in a growing number of U.S. states and around the world, it makes exactly zero sense for regulators to continue to take punitive actions against athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson or anyone else who chooses to consume cannabis in their off-hours,” said Erik Altieri, executive director of NORML, a nonprofit that seeks to reform marijuana laws.
“Sha’Carri Richardson, like millions of her fellow Americans, turned to cannabis’ therapeutic benefits to help her cope with the tragic loss of her mother,” he said. “To use this as a rationale for denying this athlete, who is otherwise competing at the top of her sport, the ability to represent the United States at the Tokyo Olympics should be an unacceptable outcome in this situation. Let Richardson race.”
• Jeff Mordock contributed to this story.
