American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson will miss this summer’s Olympic Games after not being selected for the women’s 4×100 meter relay team.
Richardson, 21, won the Olympic trials in the 100 meters, but was suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana. Richardson accepted the suspension, saying she used the drug, which is legal in many states, after the sudden death of her mother just days before the Olympic trial.
The 30-day suspension precluded her from competing in the individual 100 meter race, but would have expired in time for her to compete in the relay, if USA Track and Field named her to the team. It declined to do so.
“While USATF fully agrees that the merit of the World Anti-Doping Agency rules related to THC should be reevaluated, it would be detrimental to the integrity of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field if USATF amended its policies following competition, only weeks before the Olympic Games,” USATF said in a statement Tuesday.
The statement praised Richardson for accepting responsibility and said that USATF will offer her “our continued support both on and off the track.”
Javianne Oliver, Jenna Prandini and Teahna Daniels will represent the US in the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics in Tokyo next month. Gabby Parsons, who also qualified in the 200, will round out the 4×100 relay team.
