Richardson, 21, said reason for marijuana use was to ‘hide the pain’ of learning about her biological mother’s death.
Sha’Carri Richardson swayed back and forth.
Her shoulders moved up and down with each deep breath.
She appeared to blink back tears.
Her voice wavered as she apologized for failing a drug test last month during the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials because of marijuana use, a result that will keep her from competing in the womens’ 100-meter dash later this month at the Tokyo Olympics.
Richardson’s demeanor Friday morning in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show reflected her crushing reality.
The 21-year-old Dallas native — a 2018 Carter graduate and American sprinting phenom — has accepted a 30-day suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency for testing positive for THC, the active agent in marijuana, the organization announced Friday.
While Richardson’s suspension, which backdates to June 28, will end before the women’s 100 meters heats start July 30 in Tokyo, the test result disqualified her trials performance and U.S. team selection.
She took responsibility for violating anti-doping rules to cope with the death of her biological mother days before her trials races. She said she used marijuana to “hide my pain” while grappling with the unexpected news, their complicated relationship and the mounting outside pressure ahead of the biggest races of her life.
But now, she’s shouldering another emotional burden with only an outside chance of competing in the rescheduled Olympics — if USA Track and Field selects her for a relay team once her suspension is complete.
“I want to be as transparent as possible with you guys, whether it’s good, whether it’s bad,” Richardson said. “But when it comes to Sha’Carri Richardson, it’s never been a steroid. It will never be a steroid attached to the name Sha’Carri Richardson, so as far as what the situation was, [it] was marijuana.
“Standing here, I just say don’t judge me because I am human. I’m you. I just happen to run a little faster.”
Richardson was set to arrive in Tokyo as a favorite for gold in the 100 meters, an event the U.S. hasn’t won since 1996, and as one of the most recognizable athletes at the Games.
At a meet in April, she logged a 10.72-second finish, the sixth-fastest women’s 100 meters time in history. At the trials, Richardson captivated viewers with her fire-orange dyed hair that flowed free from a ponytail, trademark long fingernails and outgoing personality.
But beneath her on-track bravado, Richardson hid emotional turmoil.
Before her 100 meters heats started June 18 in Eugene, Oregon, Richardson participated in a pre-scheduled interview, during which the reporter was first to tell Richardson about her mother’s death.
Richardson was raised in Oak Cliff primarily by her grandmother, Betty Harp — whom the family affectionately refers to as Big Mama — and her aunt Shay — who doubled as Richardson’s first track coach.
Richardson hasn’t spoken publicly about her relationship with her biological mom. She mentioned her death in an interview with NBC right after her Olympic qualification, but she later said “that is still a very, very, very sensitive and confusing topic for me to even speak on.”
She then fanned her hands over her eyes to hold back tears.
The “emotional panic” Richardson said she experienced after learning the news triggered her to use marijuana, which is legal for recreational use by adults in Oregon.
“Knowing … I still have to go out and put on a performance for my dream, go out there and still compete,” Richardson said. “Just blinded by emotions, blinded by sadness, blinded by just hurting, hiding hurt honestly, for the fact that I can’t hide myself, so at least in some type of way, I was just trying to hide my pain.”
The USADA’s website identifies marijuana and cannabinoids as “substances that are prohibited in-competition” without a therapeutic exemption and “may lead to an anti-doping rule violation and sanction.”
Marijuana is prohibited, according to the USADA, because it can pose health risks to athletes, enhance performance and violate the spirit of the sport.
Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — members of the House Oversight Committee and Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties — published a letter Friday night to the WADA and USADA to express “dismay” over Richardson’s suspension. They emphasized the growing acceptance of marijuana usage in other sports, asked for a change in policy to reflect evidence that marijuana doesn’t enhance performance and noted “anti-marijuana laws have a particularly ugly history of systemic racism.”
Jenna Prandini, who finished fourth in the 100 meters at the trials, will likely become the U.S’s third representative in the Olympic heats. Fifth-place Gabby Thomas, a graduate student at the University of Texas who’s studying epidemiology and public health, will likely serve as the alternate.
“Sha’Carri Richardson’s situation is incredibly unfortunate and devastating for everyone involved,” USATF said in a statement Friday. “Athlete health and well-being continue to be one of USATF’s most critical priorities and we will work with Sha’Carri to ensure she has ample resources to overcome any mental health challenges now and in the future.”
Richardson’s name trended nationally on social media Friday with many — including Texas natives Michael Johnson, Patrick Mahomes, Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Acho — supporting Richardson and disagreeing with the reason for her suspension.
USATF could still decide to add Richardson to the 4×100-meter relay team in Tokyo, which will include six total members: the top four from trials and two at-large selections.
While remaining hopeful to receive that relay nod, Richardson finished her interview Friday morning with a soft smile — and a promise of a controversy-free future.
“I greatly apologize if I let you guys down, and I did,” Richardson said. “I just want to let you all know this will be the last time the Olympics don’t see Sha’Carri Richardson, and this will be the last time the U.S. doesn’t come home with the gold medal in the 100.
“This is just one Games. I’m 21. I’m very young. Unlike most, I have plenty of Games left in me to compete in because I have plenty of talent that backs me up because everything I do comes to 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 they need because this will never happen [again].”
