At the beginning of July, track star Sha’Carri Richardson received a one month suspension after failing a drug test a few weeks before the Tokyo Olympics. The runner had consumed cannabis shortly after discovering her mother had passed away.
Cannabis Reflection
Even though Sha’Carri Richardson couldn’t compete in the Tokyo Olympics, she is still optimistic about the future. “It was a moment of bitterness, but at the same time it was sweet because it just gives me more time, it gives me more to show the world that I’m here to stay,” Richardson explained. “You can’t run from reality. It’s still going to be there no matter how long you choose to ignore it, no matter how long you choose to think it’s going to go away.”
When asked about the potential change coming to athletes surrounding cannabis restrictions, Richardson said she would be “blessed” if change for others came from her punishment.
“If those rules do change, honestly I’m just blessed and proud of the fact I could do that for other athletes,” she said.
Racing
Sha’Carri Richardson spoke with NBC following her first race post suspension, the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon. This race took place on the same track she received her suspension on. Richardson placed ninth, running the 100m dash at 11.14 seconds. She finished almost a full second behind reigning Olympic gold medalist from Jamaica, Elaine Thompson-Herah. She completed the 100m dash in 10.54 seconds. Even though this race hadn’t been her best, Richardson said she’s here to stay.
”I’m not upset with myself at all,” Richardson said. “This is one race. I’m not done. You know what I’m capable of. Count me out if you want to. Talk all the s— you want because I’m here to stay. I’m not done. I’m the sixth-fastest woman in this game, ever, and can’t nobody ever take that away from me. Congratulations to the winners. Congratulations to the people that won, but they’re not done seeing me yet — period.”
Future
According to the World Association Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the U.S. played a key role in creating the strict cannabis rules back in the 1990s. Then, cannabis was banned in spite of it not being a performance enhancing drug. Now, with further research to show how cannabis works within the human body, ideas and laws are changing within the U.S. as well as around the world. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), an organization that operates separately from WADA, also discussed with lawmakers about the need for cannabis rule changes.
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