Sha’Carri Richardson Suspended for One Month After Positive Test for Marijuana

Early Thursday afternoon, Richardson cryptically tweeted, “I am human.” And on NBC on Friday, she expanded on that thought.

“I just say, don’t judge me and I am human — I’m you, I just happen to run a little faster,” she said, adding that she expects some people to criticize her marijuana use. “They don’t necessarily understand, and I wouldn’t even call them haters.”

While Richardson’s suspension will be over by the time the Olympic track and field competition begins, the positive test erased her Olympic trials performance in the women’s 100, meaning she will not run in the event. Unlike the Olympic selection processes of some other countries, U.S.A. Track Field’s procedures leave little room for discretion over who qualifies. They dictate that the top three finishers in a given event at the trials qualify for the Olympics, provided their performances reach the Olympic standard.

It is possible that Richardson could still compete in the 4×100-meter relay even if she is ruled out of the individual race. The decision would be up to U.S.A. Track Field, the national governing body of the sport.

Up to six athletes are selected for the country’s relay pool, and four of them must be the top three finishers in the 100 meters at the Olympic trials and the alternate. The governing body names the remaining two members of the relay pool.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/sports/olympics/shacarri-richardson-suspended-marijuana.html