ShaCarri Richardson, an American sprinter, was poised to set new records at the Tokyo Olympics. However, a positive marijuana test could mean she has to withdraw from the race.Richardson won the 100-meter women's race at the US track & field Olympic trials in Oregon, June. This placed her in the top of the list of hopefuls from the USA. According to The New York Times, Richardson was a favourite to win gold in Tokyo at 10.86 seconds.Let's be honest: the discovery of THC in her system would be a ridiculous reason for her to miss the largest athletic event in the globe. It also sheds light on the outdated rules that determine who can and cannot compete in the Olympics.On Friday morning, the US Anti-Doping Agency announced that Richardson had been suspended for one month, effective June 28th. According to the Times, Richardson may still be able to run in the 4100 meter relay later this month.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn an interview with NBC on Friday, the runner said that marijuana was her coping mechanism after her mother died while she was at Oregon trials.She said that she was sorry if I had let you guys down during the interview.She wrote, "I am human," in a tweet on Thursday.She said, "Don't judge me" and that she was human. Later, she explained that her tweet had influenced her interview with NBC. They don't necessarily understand and I wouldn't call them haters.AdvertisementAdvertisementSocial media was shocked by the decision to penalize her for having consumed a substance that is increasingly accepted, decriminalized and legalized all over the globe.Bree Newsome, a grassroots artist and organizer, tweeted that ShaCarri Richardson shouldn't have to share her trauma to us in order to ask for forgiveness. To be able to consume cannabis, she doesn't need to be traumatized. The entire society has been destroyed.Seth Rogen (Hollywood actor and founder of Houseplant cannabis company) tweeted that the notion that marijuana is a dangerous drug is rooted in racism. It is absurd that Team USA would exclude one of the country's most talented athletes for thinking it's hateful.The official statement by USA Track and Field on Twitter did not mention the possibility of a reverse.AdvertisementAdvertisementShaCarri Richardsons' situation is extremely unfortunate and catastrophic for all involved, the statement reads. It promises to ensure that the runner has sufficient resources to overcome mental health challenges in the future.The World Anti-Doping Agency continues to list marijuana as a prohibited substance. We are deeply sorry, but the USOPC remains committed to clean competition. According to a statement made by the USOPC, which was quoted by The Times,USADA claims that marijuana can increase performance and pose a risk to athletes' health. However, the evidence is not strong enough to support that claim.READ MORE: ShaCarri, a Track Sensation, Tests Positive For Marijuana [The New York Times]AdvertisementAdvertisementMore about athletics: A professional gamer retires after sustaining a career-ending injury to the thumbFuturism readers are invited to join the Singularity Global Community. This is our parent company's forum for futuristic science and technology discussions with other like-minded people around the globe. Sign up today to get started!
