The US Olympic team has been rocked by news that sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson could miss the Tokyo Games after reportedly testing positive for a banned substance.
The 21-year-old blitzed her rivals in the 100m sprint at the recent Olympic trials with a time of 10.86 seconds and was seen as one of the athletes who could be a breakout star in Japan.
But her dreams of competing at the Games are in jeopardy after her performance at the trials was disqualified after she tested positive to marijuana, according to The Jamaica Gleaner.
The report states Richardson did not use a performance-enhancing substance but was facing a 30-day suspension for testing positive to the recreational drug, which is on the banned list. The ruling means she's expected to be replaced for the 100m sprint, but might be able to compete in the 4x100m relay. Her participation in the Olympics will depend on the date she tested positive and the athletics schedule in Tokyo.
Richardson's name is absent from the Diamond League's event in Stockholm this weekend and the star won't compete according to Reuters.
Richardson posted a cryptic message to social media on Friday morning (AEST), which simply said: "I am human".
The news has prompted a wave of reaction about marijuana remaining a banned substance, especially with several sports in the US changing their stance in regard to the drug.
Richardson was battling a personal issue during the Olympic trials when it was revealed the runner was dealing with the death of her biological mother.
"My family has kept me grounded," Richardson said.
"This year has been crazy for me. Going from just last week, losing my biological mother, and I'm still here.
"Last week, finding out my biological mother passed away and still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here, still here to make the family that I do still have on this earth proud. And the fact (is) nobody knows what I go through. Everybody has struggles and I understand that, but y'all see me on this track and y'all see the poker face I put on, but nobody but them and my coach know what I go through on a day-to-day basis.
"I'm highly grateful for them. Without them, there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha'Carri Richardson. My family is my everything, my everything until the day I'm done."
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.