ShaCarri Richardson will not be able compete in the Women's 100M as she smoked marijuana. Getty ImagesShaCarri Richardson is ShaCarri, a strong black woman who takes on the world with her tattoos, tattoos, decorated nails, and jewels. She is a polarizing athlete who challenges the old guard and captures the imagination of the new generation. She is only 21 years old and will be a sensation at the Tokyo Games later in the month.AdvertisementShe broke the NCAA record in the 100-meter sprint for women as a freshman at LSU with 10.75 seconds. After winning her trials heat, she is the gold medal favorite for the Tokyo Olympics event.Richardson will not be participating in the calling-card event due to a failed drug test. It's not steroids or any other performance-enhancing drug. She was positive for Marijuana.Richardsons competition results, including her Olympic qualifying results from the Team Trials on June 19, 2021 have been disqualified and she will forfeit any medals and points. The Tokyo Games eligibility criteria for athletes are determined by the USOPC/USA Track & Field eligibility rules. This was stated today by the U.S Anti-Doping Agency.Richardson was last month in Oregon, where marijuana is legalized for the U.S Olympic Trials. She also mentioned her mother's death.My family has been my anchor. From last week's loss of my biological mother to this year, it has been a crazy year. But I am still here. She said that during an interview after she was selected for the Olympic team. My biological mother died, but I'm still determined to follow my dreams and make sure that I make my family proud.Richardson spoke out about her failed drug test in an interview on TODAY Show this morning. Richardson stated that she had smoked marijuana in Oregon to cope with her emotions after hearing about the death of her biological mom. Richardson did nothing except to handle the situation with grace and take responsibility for her actions.AdvertisementI want to accept responsibility for my actions. I know what I did, what I should have done, what I was allowed to do, and I made that decision. Richardson stated that Richardson was not looking for empathy or making excuses in my case.She stated in an interview that it would never be a drug, and it would never be associated with the name ShaCarri Richardson.AdvertisementMarijuana is listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned substances list. The USADA and United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee have signed the WADA code. This means that they adhere to its rules.AdvertisementUSADA states that marijuana is prohibited because it can increase performance and pose a risk to athletes' health. It also violates the spirit and principles of the sport.Two things could be true. While it is possible that Richardson broke a rule she knew was there, it's also possible that Richardson failed a test for a substance which is legalized in 18 other states, including the one Richardson used, that could ruin an athlete's dreams.AdvertisementRichardson would have been the favourite in the Women's 100M if she had drunk a few drinks rather than smoked a legal substance. She is currently waiting to hear from the USOPC if she will be permitted to compete in relay events at Olympics after her one-month suspension on July 28. Or if she will just be watching her teammates.Instead of penalizing athletes for using marijuana, which can help them relax and cope under the stress and exertion they face, it is important to prioritize their mental and emotional health. It is a terrible travesty to be stripped of ShaCarri Richardson's 100M dash participation because she smoked marijuana after her mother's death.
