Sprinter Shakari Richardson is not on the official list of US track and field athletes announced on Tuesday, which means she will miss the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Olympic Games.
On June 28, after the sprint champion was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for one month and disqualified from the race due to a positive marijuana test, it was clear that Richardson would not be allowed to participate in the women’s 100-meter sprint because he was part of the US team.
However, since the one-month ban will be lifted when the track and field events are planned to start in Tokyo, it is not clear whether Richardson will be able to compete as a member of the women’s 4x100m relay team. The official list on Tuesday made it clear that Richardson will not participate in the 2021 Olympics.
“Although the USATF fully agrees that the advantages of the WADA and THC-related rules should be reassessed, if the USATF changes its policy only a few weeks after the end of the game, it will undermine the integrity of the U.S. Olympic track and field team trials before the Olympics.” The US Tennis Department said in a statement on Tuesday.
“All USATF athletes are equally aware of and must abide by the current anti-doping regulations. If the rules are only enforced under certain circumstances, our credibility as a national regulatory agency will be lost. Therefore, although we express our sincere understanding of Shakari , We must also maintain fairness for all athletes who try to achieve their dreams by gaining a spot on the U.S. Olympic track team.”
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Last month, the athlete ran the 100 meters in 10.86 seconds in the Olympic team trials in Eugene, Oregon last month, amazed the audience and was considered a popular candidate for Tokyo to win the championship. After receiving a ban on marijuana legally used by Richardson in Oregon, Richardson said she used it to help alleviate the panic caused by learning that her biological mother had just passed away.
“I know what I did and what I shouldn’t do,” she said. “I know what I am not allowed to do, and I still made that decision. No excuses or any sympathy was sought… but in that position of my life and found something similar… that It’s definitely a heavy topic.”
Since the news of Richardson’s doping ban, many celebrities and politicians have publicly talked about her situation-mainly to support the struggle of the prospective Olympian.Seth Rogen, Alex Morgan and Jack Paul Tweet They disagree with the ban.
Although President Joe Biden supported this decision, Say “Rules are rules…I am really proud of her way of responding,” more professional politicians like Alexandria Courtz and Corey Booker expressed support for the equality of legalization of marijuana and Richardson’s impressive performance.
Weekly newspaper Contact USATF for comments.
