Sha'carri Richardson tests positive?

[Christy93]

Currently being reported by Jamaica Gleaner that Richardson will miss the Olympic Games after an "adverse analytical finding" at US trials.

EDIT: Now reported that it was cannabis. Trials result will be DQ'd, so even if the ban is short enough to return in time, my understanding is that she will be ineligible. What a silly, silly girl.

[RunUnlimited]

"There is no smoke without fire...."

https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/richardson-will-not-compete-diamond-league-stockholm-2021-07-01/?taid=60de570dfdc7d30001f550d4&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

[RunUnlimited]

Now of course the Reuters article could be just a completely innocent thing and Richardson has pulled out of the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm due to an injury niggle. It's happened to plenty of athletes who've had to make last second decisions to miss a track and field meet....

However, the proximity and timing of this to the Jamaica Gleaner story, plus Richardson's agent not being immediately available for comment, tied in with the cryptic "I am human" tweet from Sha'carri... those seem to be a rather odd wayto announce/say/reveal that you are unable to attend Stockholm due to an injury. Wouldn't the very first thing you'd say in such a situation if you are hurt is, "I am injured. Sorry folks, but I just can't make it to the start line today.", or something similar?

[LuckySpikes]

"You gonna know my name! I'm making history."

Yes Sha'carri, we'll know you as the idiot who got banned from the Olympics for smoking weed!

Some say cannabis isn't a performance enhancer but consider all the things it can help with, summarised at https://forum.trackandfieldnews.com/...78#post1702378

[Christy93]

I find it amazing that somebody can display the work ethic to rise to the top of their sport, but can't refrain from smoking weed months out from the Olympic Games. A harsh lesson, but a much needed one, she'll need to grow up or she'll look back on a lost career in 10-15 years time.

[Ladyloz]

Cannabis is actually only banned in competition so one can indulge at liberty in the off season

[Grassmarket]

More information. Jenna Prandini will be the sub, so 100/200 double for her.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9748245/American-sprint-sensation-set-MISS-Tokyo-Olympics-testing-positive-cannabis.html

[beergut]

Well its one less competitor for DAS to worry about, but as its been said already a stupid mistake if its all true.

[paul]

This is sad. Maybe she was just around some people who smoked? I don't know what the level for adverse analytics is. But I often used to find myself in company where it did not seem polite to say "don't smoke that around me" (100 years ago when I was young). In this sense I guess having friends with a habit is safer than having doper mates!

Anyway, this is sad. Because of who she is, everyone will pile into her now. But she is a good athlete and a great athletics character. :-(

[trickstat]

I think the issue with cannabis is that it can have some therapeutic uses which might occasionally be beneficial to an athlete/sportsperson. Not that I actually think Richardson has been deliberately using it for that reason. If she has been using it recreationally then she has been very foolish.

[Occasional Hope]

Silly girl. She’s deprived herself of a potentially golden opportunity. Although if this isn’t true and she does get banned it won’t be a long one and I expect she’ll Make her home WC next year. But however good you are you can’t guarantee the next Olympic cycle you’ll be in the place.

didn’t Mark Lewis Francis Lose a medal (at the Euro indoors I think)for this years ago? Don’t think he was banned though.

[SprintRelayFan]

That’s right yes. Although even if Richardson wasn’t banned obviously she doesn’t get to go as she’s now not top three in trials of course

[Ursus]

The Mail article says that her mother had died recently. Given she’s only 21 her mum must have been comparatively young, so it’s quite possible she may not have been thinking straight.

But whatever her circumstances, given her profession it’s an extremely silly thing to have done.

[Grassmarket]

Gets a one month ban, but US Trials result wiped so no Olympic place. Free to do the post-Olympic circuit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/57692193

[Occasional Hope]

Sounds about right, minor infringement of the rules, minimum possible ban, she’s unlucky the US selection system is so regimented. She should be able to bounce back from this.

[Ladyloz]

Wonder if the US will still be tempted to include her in the Relay Squad

[Grassmarket]

Wonder if the US will still be tempted to include her in the Relay Squad

I’d always thought the relay squad was top 6 from the trials, but tell me if I’m wrong. But if she goes into the Tokyo bubble as part of the squad look for last minute shenanigans to force someone to withdraw & get her back into the full 100m.

[trickstat]

I’d always thought the relay squad was top 6 from the trials, but tell me if I’m wrong. But if she goes into the Tokyo bubble as part of the squad look for last minute shenanigans to force someone to withdraw & get her back into the full 100m.

I personally doubt whether they'd do either because it would create a major precedent and undermine their whole trials system.