ABOVE: Sha’Carri Richardson (Screenshot via NBC Sports on YouTube)
USA Track & Field has made its final selections for alternates and members of the 4×100 relay team for the summer Olympic games in Tokyo July 6, without naming out sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson to the team. She had been suspended after admitting to smoking marijuana as a result as a way of coping with her mother’s recent death last month.
The 21 year old had failed a drug test after she qualified June 19 in the 100-meter race at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, securing a coveted spot as part of the U.S. women’s team in the Olympic trials that were held at the newly renovated Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene last month.
She will not be offered a shortened suspension to compete on the international stage later this month, USA Track & Field said in a statement.
“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,” the organization said.
Richardson said she had accepted a 30-day suspension that ends July 27, which although will cause her to be barred from Olympic 100-meter race would have allowed her to participate in running in the women’s relays.
Appearing on NBC’s TODAY Friday morning she said, “I was definitely triggered and blinded by emotions, blinded by badness, and hurting, and hiding hurt. I know I can’t hide myself, so in some type of way, I was trying to hide my pain.”
On July 4, Richardson tweeted; ‘I’m sorry, I can’t be y’all Olympic Champ this year but I promise I’ll be your World Champ next year.”
https://twitter.com/itskerrii/status/1411547790170333185
