Petition calls for sprinter who smoked marijuana to be reinstated for Olympics

(ABC4) – A petition nearing 50,000 signatures is asking for sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson to be reinstated to the U.S. Olympics crew regardless of failing a drug take a look at.

Richardson not too long ago gained the 100 at Olympic trials, finishing the sprint in 10.86 seconds, according to the Associated Press.

As a result of she examined constructive for a chemical present in marijuana throughout the Olympic trials, her consequence was erased and she or he is just not permitted to run the 100 in Toyko later this month.

Richardson has accepted a 30-day suspension, which ends on July 27 – this is able to be in time to run in the women’s relays, in response to AP. The 21-year-old instructed “At the moment” she had smoked marijuana as a method to deal with the latest passing of her mom.

Her suspension may have been three months, according to AP, however as a result of she is collaborating in a counseling program, it was decreased to at least one month.

Regardless of the suspension, Richardson may nonetheless be eligible to run within the 4×100-meter relay on the Olympics, in response to ESPN. She would should be chosen by the USA Monitor and Discipline first.

Whereas marijuana is just not considered a performance-enhancing drug, it stays banned as a result of it meets two of the three standards from the World Anti-Doping Company, ESPN explains.

After Richardson’s suspension was introduced, a petition was began for the Worldwide Olympic Committee to reinstate the Texan

“Richardson shouldn’t be barred from realizing her dream of competing within the 2021 Olympic Video games,” the petition reads. “She didn’t acquire any aggressive benefit from the reported use of marijuana.”

As of Monday night, the petition has over 47,700 signatures.

This isn’t the primary US runner to have their Olympic probabilities dashed by a drug take a look at this yr.

Shelby Houlihan, the American file holder within the 1,500 and 5,000 meters, not too long ago blamed a tainted pork burrito for a four-year ban from the sport. She claims the meat prompted a false positive test for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.