Sha’Carri Richardson IS THAT GIRL.
And she’s also a human being.
Sha’Carri is suspended from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after failing a drug test. They found weed in her system, and even though it’s legal in some states, it’s a major no-no under the rules for the Olympics.
Sha’Carri revealed the news during an appearance on the Today Show. She said she accepted the 30-day ban, which means she’ll still be able to compete on July 27. She’ll miss the 100-meter race, which she qualified for by winning in trials with a time of 10.86 seconds.
USADA said in a statement, “In accepting the penalty, Richardson’s results from the U.S. Olympic trials have been disqualified, and she forfeits any medals, points, and prizes.”
Sha’Carri sent a message online and said that she is human. As reported on ESPN, Sha’Carri apologized to her supporters on the Today’s Show. She said,
“I apologize. As much as I’m disappointed, I know that when I step on the track, I represent not only myself, I represent a community that has shown great support, great love … I apologize for the fact that I didn’t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time.” She also explained that she is aware of the rules. At the time of her victory, life hit her hard when she found out her biological mother had passed away. Sha’Carri said,
“We all have our different struggles, we all have our different things we deal with, but to put on a face and have to go out in front of the world and put on a face and hide my pain,” Richardson said. “Who are you? Who am I to tell you how to cope when you’re dealing with pain or you’re dealing with a struggle that you’ve never experienced before or that you never thought you’d have to deal with. Who am I to tell you how to cope? Who am I to tell you you’re wrong for hurting?”
Sha'Carri Richardson says she smoked marijuana to cope with her mother’s death, “I was trying to hide my pain”
(via @TODAYshow)pic.twitter.com/zAt7rpocup
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 2, 2021
Social media showered her with love, take a look:
Good morning and Happy Friday to everyone except the Olympic Committee, for banning Sha'Carri Richardson for weed while Michael Phelps weed-coughs gold medals.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) July 2, 2021
White twitter when michael Phelps got caught for weed vs now when it’s sha'carri richardson pic.twitter.com/dKvBlYadNc
— jw (@jwmedia12) July 2, 2021
Oh , so Sha’Carri Richardson reached the level of fame where it’s “try and find ANYTHING“ to mess with her. Got it…
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) July 2, 2021
what’s happening to Sha’Carri Richardson is so fucked up and punitive. so much love to her ❤️ pic.twitter.com/nep5t27Aow
— joshua gutterman tranen 🇵🇸🍉 (@jdgtranen) July 2, 2021
Sha'Carri Richardson broke a rule. And it’s ridiculous weed has this stigma. Both things can be true.
She handled this entire ordeal like an adult and accepted complete responsibility. The conversation now should be about athlete’s mental health and improving that response.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) July 2, 2021
There is no need for Sha’Carri to apologize.
We need to get rid of archaic rules for a substance that is fully legal in 19 states plus DC.
And we need to legalize it at the federal level. https://t.co/Ws0n8ykKIP
— Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) July 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/thinkdaii/status/1410775568761733122?s=21