This archive report was first published on 2 July 2021.
July 2, 2021 - American sprint sensation Sha'Carri Richardson has confirmed that she tested positive for marijuana at the US Olympic athletics trials, resulting in her being barred from the 100m at the Tokyo Games.
Richardson, 21, made the admission on US Olympic telecaster NBC's 'Today' show, revealing that she had taken marijuana to cope with the emotional pain of learning about the death of her biological mother from a reporter at the US Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon last month.
Speaking on the show, Richardson apologized to her fans, family, and sponsors, saying she had let them down and that this would be the last time the Olympics didn't see her and the US didn't come home with a gold medal in the 100m.
Richardson had become the sixth-fastest woman ever at the distance with a time of 10.72sec at a Florida meet in April and was seen as a contender to become the first American woman to win Olympic 100m gold since Gail Devers in 1996.
While marijuana is legal in the state of Oregon, it is on the list of World Anti-Doping Agency banned substances, and Richardson has accepted a one-month ban from June 28, meaning her 100m victory at the trials has been cancelled.
Richardson might be able to participate in the 4x100m relay, but that would require her to be selected for the squad by USA Track and Field and approved by the US Olympic Committee.
