Sha’Carri Richardson is the fastest American woman on the track right now, but she won’t be competing this summer at the Tokyo Olympics.
USA Track and Field released its Olympic roster Tuesday, and the 21-year-old sprinter’s name was not on it for the women’s 4×100-meter relay.
Richardson was suspended for one month after testing positive for marijuana following her 100-meter dash victory at Olympic Trials last month, and her victory in her signature event was invalidated. Marijuana is legal in Oregon, where trials were held, but it’s still prohibited in competition, per World Anti-Doping Agency rules.
Richardson said she used it to help her cope because she was in “a state of emotional panic” after learning at trials that her biological mother had died.
“It definitely was a very heavy topic on me,” she told the TODAY show last week following the news of her suspension. “And people don’t really understand what it’s like to have to … put on a face and have to go out in front of the world and hide my pain.”
Although her suspension guaranteed she wouldn’t be able to compete individually in the 100 at the Olympics, there was a chance she could still compete in the 4×100 relay — which takes place after her suspension ends — because the national governing body has discretion over relay rosters.
But it’s now official that she will not be racing at the Tokyo Games.
USATF’s statement regarding Sha’Carri Richardson: pic.twitter.com/x7w1K6HDe5
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) July 6, 2021
In a statement about Richardson’s situation, USA Track and Field said:
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
After news of Richardson’s suspension broke, fans and other professional athletes expressed their love and support for her. And, while devastated for her and still in disbelief, many continued to do so after she was left off the Olympic team.