Olympic disqualification for marijuana use? Sha'Carri Richardson, 21, of the United States, was one of the favorites in the 100m run at this year's Olympics. Unfortunately for the athlete, she tested positive for substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Organization, which treats cannabis not as doping but as a recovery aid, which is said to be the reason for its illegality in the sport. The White House has also become involved, urging a change in the rules.
One of the American favorites disqualified from the Olympics for marijuana use
Equally a month ago, 21-year-old Sha'Carri Richardson ran the 100 meters in a time of 10.86 at the Olympic trials in the U.S. state of Oregon, a result that gave her a real chance for Olympic gold at this year's Tokyo Games. This year, only Jamaican-born Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (10.62) achieved a better result. It was bet that the battle for Olympic gold would be between these two athletes.
Unfortunately, Richardson failed World Anti-Doping Organization(WADA) tests, which showed that the athlete had recently used cannabis.
Cannabis is no longer considered by WADA as doping (the latest change in the rules 01.01.2021) thanks to which its detection does not even end in a two-year suspension as was the case until now. However, it is still banned, now listed as a rest and recovery aid, not as a direct doping agent. The penalty for detecting THC in an athlete's system has been reduced and is now a suspension of up to three months. Sha'Carri Richardson was suspended has a month which prevented her from competing in the Olympics.
I am only human
- Richardson wrote on Twitter
The runner admitted that she used marijuana to cope with the trauma of her mother's death, she gave an interview in which she said:
I was seized by emotion, evil, and the pain that was hidden inside me. I knew I couldn't hide from the world, so I hid this pain inside me. This pain was like I had never experienced before in my life
- confided Richardson being the first athlete in 25 years to give the U.S. hopes for gold in the 100m run.
I take full responsibility. I know what I'm allowed to do and what I shouldn't do, and yet I made this decision and not another," Richardson added, hinting that she will probably miss Tokyo. - I apologize to everyone I let down. I promise that this will be the last Games without gold in the 100 meters for the United States.
- she said.
The White House, whose representatives believe that marijuana should be removed from the list of banned substances in sports as soon as possible, also spoke out on the issue. The next meeting of the World Anti-Doping Organization, where the rules may be changed, is scheduled for November this year. However, as WADA representatives told The Financial Times, if it is possible, the discussion on allowing cannabis use in sports will be held much sooner.
The U.S. president also spoke on the issue:
Rules are rules and everyone knows what they are. Whether they should be maintained is another matter, but rules are rules.
-said Joe Biden
Many sports fans and athletes from around the world are outraged by the decision. A petition has been created on the issue of allowing the American athlete to compete, which has already been signed by nearly 600,000 people.
