Sha’Carri Richardson was not chosen to compete on an Olympic relay team and will completely miss out on the Tokyo Olympics, having been previously disqualified from the women’s 100 meters after testing positive for marijuana following her qualifying run. USA Track and Field (USATF) said on Tuesday said that coaches chose not to add Richardson to the roster in an effort to “maintain fairness” for all the other athletes who adhered to the banned substances rules. Javianne Oliver, Teahna Daniels, Jenna Prandini and Gabby Thomas will race for Team U.S.A. in the 4×100 meters relay.
Richardson had initially qualified for the Tokyo games on June 19 after coming in first in the 100 meters final at the Olympic trials, but after her positive drug test, she was required to forfeit her victory and give up all medals, points and prizes from the event — including her spot at the women’s 100 meters event in Tokyo — according to the U.S. Anti Doping Agency. Richardson was suspended for 30 days as a result of the drug test, but the suspension would have ended before the women’s 4×100 meters relay in Tokyo. Coaches are allowed to select runners for the relay team that didn’t qualify for the games at Olympic trials.
Richardson admitted she used marijuana to cope with the death of her biological mother and partook in Oregon, where the substance is legal, but is not making excuses and is taking responsibility for her actions. Richardson said: “I know what I did. I know what I’m supposed to do … and I still made that decision.”
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