Written by A positive marijuana test and a month-long suspension has evolved to more than it initially seemed. From ridiculous claims by journalist Claire Lehmann that Sha’Carri’s “strong nails and hair” were evidence of steroid abuse to another that suggested her predicament was just another example of “anti-Blackness”. Lehman’s comments suggest also that just because the World Anti-Doping Agency didn’t identify steroid use, doesn’t inherently mean that Richardson wasn’t using performance-enhancing substances. She also goes on to drag the 1988 doping scandal of Richardson’s coach Dennis Mitchell into the story, and even insinuating that the legendary Flo Jo, to whom Richardson bears a resemblance, was on drugs. Case closed then? on the strength of that evidence I think not.
For its part the suspension was delivered in a most apologetic way, the statement from USATF reading:
“First and foremost, we are incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances and strongly applaud her accountability – and will offer her our continued support both on and off the track.” … “So while our heartfelt understanding lies with Sha’Carri, we must also maintain fairness for all of the athletes who attempted to realize their dreams by securing a place on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team.”
President Biden even weighed in with a comment about how “proud” of her he was in how she handled the test and the consequent suspension. One wonders why the President would declare his apparent pleasure with the athlete after she had been caught using a prohibited substance. This case has obviously become more about politics than sports.
Richardson protested that her use of the drug was intended to help her cope with the grief over the passing of her biological mother. What followed though was that she was not selected to race in Tokyo once her suspension was over, this is apparently what has drawn most of the fire. One headline screaming: “Sha’Carri Richardson’s positive marijuana test one example of how anti-Blackness triumphs in sports.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed the suspension and the failure to allow Richardson to compete, as racist. “The criminalization and banning of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial policy. The IOC should reconsider its suspension of Ms. Richardson and any athletes penalized for cannabis use. This ruling along [with] IOC denial of swim caps for natural hair is deeply troubling.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district (@AOC) July 2, 2021
Work must still be done, on many levels, on the culture surrounding drugs in sport, the emphasis on greatness and being the best at all costs, and the issues around racism and fair treatment for all, in and out of the sports environment.
As President Biden also says, and we must concur that despite our views on why events unfolded the way they did that; “The rules are the rules. Whether they should remain the rules is a different issue, but the rules are the rules.”