On Friday, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced Sha’Carri Richardson accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for marijuana. She won the 100-meter race at the Olympic Trials last month and was set to head to Tokyo in a few weeks.
“The rules are clear, but this is heartbreaking on many levels; hopefully, her acceptance of responsibility and apology will be an important example to us all that we can successfully overcome our regrettable decisions, despite the costly consequences of this one to her,” USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart said in a statement.
Seth Rogen blasted Team USA when he took to Twitter to call them out for making decisions based off of “thinking that’s rooted in hatred.”
“The notion that weed is a problematic ‘drug’ is rooted in racism. It’s insane that Team USA would disqualify one of this country’s most talented athletes over thinking that’s rooted in hatred. It’s something they should be ashamed of,” Rogen wrote.
“Also if weed made you fast, I’d be FloJo,” the 38-year-old actor and comedian joked.
Richardson appeared on “TODAY” and apologized. In the mean time, Nike is standing behind her, saying: “We appreciate Sha’Carri’s honesty and accountability and will continue to support her through this time,” the brand said in a statement on Friday.
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Richardson made a virtual appearance on the Today show to apologize. “I want to take responsibility for my actions,” she said. Richardson also explained she ingested marijuana as a way to cope after a reporter told her that her biological mother had died. This unexpected heartbreak sent Richardson into a state of “emotional panic” and she felt “blinded by emotions, blinded by sadness.”
She has been disqualified from the 100-meter event, but her suspension finishes before the women’s team’s 4×100 relay.
