American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson may miss the Tokyo Olympic Games this month after she reportedly tested positive for a prohibited substance.
According to The Jamaican Gleaner, Richardson, 21, tested positive for cannabis, aka marijuana, and could miss her chance to win a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games which kicks off on July 23 in Japan.
Richardson faces a 30-day suspension from international competition.
She has already withdrawn from a track and field meet in Stockholm, where she was scheduled to run in the 200-meter race.
Speculation ran rampant on social media that Richardson tested positive for performance enhancing drugs such as steroids.
However, it was reported by Reuters on Thursday that Richardson tested positive for cannabis at the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Oregon last month.
Sha’Carri Richardson did not use steroids, according to a source. Richardson is facing a 30-day suspension for testing positive for marijuana. https://t.co/abQRiOJkEV
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) July 2, 2021
Richardson won the women’s 100-meter dash in 10.86 seconds at the U.S. Trials.
Reuters also reported that the U.S trials’ 4th place finisher Jenna Prandini was already asked to fill in the third spot on the USA Olympic team if Richardson is disqualified.
Richardson’s agent, Renaldo Nehemiah, former NFL star and record holder in the 110 meters, did not respond to Reuters’ request for a comment.
The news prompted anger on social media. Many users questioned why Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps was allowed to compete in the Olympics after he admitted to smoking marijuana in 2009.
Phelps was suspended for 6 months in February 2009, but his suspension occurred during the off-season.
Sprinting Phenom Sha’Carri Richardson is allegedly suspended from the Olympics for marijuana use.
Suspending athletes for smoking weed in 2021 is dumb. Smoking weed knowing you will be drug tested is also dumb.
I’m not sure which is dumber.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) July 2, 2021
Oh , so Sha’Carri Richardson reached the level of fame where it’s “try and find ANYTHING“ to mess with her. Got it…
— ? Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 2, 2021
That Sha’Carri Richardson just lost her mom. I’m sure she’s still grieving. I can only imagine how much stress she’s under & how overwhelmed she must feel. People need to cut her some slack. It’s not like she was doing steroids or something. I’m still wishing her well.
— Bella Goth (@HoodCommieGirl) July 2, 2021
Weed is not a performance-enhancing drug. The Tokyo Olympic Games are wrong for suspending Sha'Carri Richardson for 30 days for testing positive for some damn weed.
— ????? (@MJFINESSELOVER) July 2, 2021
