Sha’Carri Richardson received even worse news this week as she found out she would not be competing at the Olympics at all as she was not listed on the Olympic roster released Tuesday by USA Track and Field, a decision that means the American’s positive test for marijuana will cost her a chance at running on the relay team in Tokyo, in addition to her spot in the 100-meter individual race.
Former NBA player Stephen Jackson recently did an interview and said that Black people should boycott the Olympics if they won’t allow Richardson to run. “Why should we even be a part of the Olympics, representing a country that don’t love us?”
He then pointed out that reparations have been given to other groups, but not Black people. He also pointed to Congress stalling and not acting on an anti-lynching act.
In a statement, USATF said it was “incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances” and “fully agrees” that international rules regarding marijuana should be reevaluated.
“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,” the statement read.
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Richardson also told “Today” that this isn’t the end of her Olympic dreams.
“This is just one Games,” she said. “I’m 21, I’m very young. … I have plenty of Games left in me to compete in and I have plenty of talent that backs me up, because everything I do comes from me naturally. No steroid, no anything. This incident was about marijuana, so after my sanction is up I’ll be back and able to compete, and every single time I step on the track I’ll be ready for whatever anti-doping agency to come and get what it is that they need.”
