As soon as she knew she’d done it, Sha’Carri Richardson put her hands to her chest and appeared to be near tears.
The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency was seemingly on Richardson’s side. CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement at the time, “The rules are clear, but this is heartbreaking on many levels.” Even President Joe Biden questioned whether it was time to re-evaluate the ban.
For as much as Richardson’s suspension came off as an extreme overreaction to something that has become a cultural norm in the U.S. and as an unwarranted punishment for a young woman experiencing personal turmoil, there were many who effectively shrugged and said Richardson knew the rule before she broke it and so she deserved what she got.
The reason for the slap is because of the cannabis.
WADA was never going to ease its rule for Richardson no matter who had questioned it. But the maximum punishment for a failed THC test is multiple years. The minimum is the one-month ban Richardson received. So it could have been worse.
While there is research showing that regular cannabis use can lead to some health issues, it’s the WADA panel’s conclusion that THC violates WADA’s “spirit of sport” that’s specious. According to USADA, “Essentially, no athlete should be using a prescription or non-prescription drug in a way that undermines the commitment all athletes share to uphold the values of clean sport. … Only when the playing field is level can people experience the true value of sport, including its power to inspire joy, build character, teach teamwork, and instill respect.”
Other countries have dropped restrictions on recreational use of marijuana, and in the U.S., recreational use is permitted in 24 states and the District of Columbia; the federal government recently moved to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a lesser-dangerous Schedule III drug, even though its prohibition remains.
Regardless, it’s all behind Richardson now, just like the eight women she beat in the 100-meter final Saturday. Already the reigning world champion in her signature event, she has put the suspension that kept her out of the Tokyo Olympics behind her, and she can now fully turn her attention toward Paris and winning Olympic gold.
