After the USA Track & Field team found marijuana in her system during an anti-doping test, Sha’Carri Richardson will miss Tokyo 2020 having now not been selected for the 4×100 relay team.
The runner had also been set to compete in the 100-meter race but was instead banned for 30 days as a result of the test. There was hope that Richardson would be able to compete in the relay as the suspension would have concluded by then.
“All U.S.A.T.F. athletes are equally aware of and must adhere to the current antidoping code, and our credibility as the national governing body would be lost if rules were only enforced under certain circumstances,” U.S.A. Track and Field said in a statement, per the New York Times.
“So while our heartfelt understanding lies with Sha’Carri, we must also maintain fairness for all of the athletes who attempted to realize their dreams by securing a place on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team.”
Fellow athletes and non-athletes from Dwayne Wade to Seth Rogen have supported Richardson when taking to social media.
But majority of y’all rule makers smoke and probably are investors in THC companies. Let’s stop playing these games https://t.co/hT3H6kw45T
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) July 2, 2021
The notion that weed is a problematic “drug” is rooted in racism. It’s insane that Team USA would disqualify one of this country’s most talented athletes over thinking that’s rooted in hatred. It’s something they should be ashamed of. Also if weed made you fast, I’d be FloJo. https://t.co/swDLNoVcV3
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) July 2, 2021