The fastest woman in America has apologised after failing a drugs test and being banned from competing at the women’s 100m summer’s Olympic Games.
Sha’Carri Richardson has been handed a 30-day ban after testing positive for marijuana, which will expire after the women’s 100 metre championships have taken place, but she may still compete in the relay.
The 21-year-old qualified for this summer’s Games after running the 100 metres is 10.86 seconds at the Oregon trials last month.
But that has now been deleted from the record books following the positive test, which comes after Cannabis was banned by the World Anti Doping Agency at the start of this year.
(Image: NBC)
It carries a ban of up to four years, though this can be reduced if the athlete in question can prove that their drug use did not bring a positive impact to their performance.
That reduction would not be enough to see Richardson compete in the women’s 100 metres in Tokyo, meaning the fastest American woman’s hopes of competing at the Games rest on the Team USA’s selection for the relays.
She has already logged five sub-11 second sprints this year, with her personal best of 10.72 seconds making her the sixth-fastest American woman ever.
But with her chances of competing this summer now slim at best, Richardson has apologised for the positive test and pointed to the recent death of her mother as one of the causes.
“I apologise for the fact that I didn’t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time,” she told NBC’s Today show.
“We all have our different struggles and different things we deal with but I put on a face to hide my pain.
“Who am I to tell you how to cope? Who am I to tell you you’re wrong for hurting?”
Richardson found out about her mother’s death during an interview, something which she said sent her into a state of “emotional panic”.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“To hear that information come from a complete stranger, it was definitely triggering, it was nerve shocking because it’s just like, how are you to tell me that? “ she added.
“And no offense against him at all. He was just doing his job. But definitely, that put me in a state of mind, in a state of emotional panic, if anything.”
“If I’m allowed the blessing of competing, I am grateful but this is just one Games.
“This incident was about marijuana, not steroids. After my sanction is up I’ll be back and able to compete.”
Richardson’s place on Team USA’s 100 metre squad for the Games will be taken by Jenna Prandini, who finished fourth in the trials in Oregon.
There is a chance that she could take part in the relay race, with her ban expiring before they take place in Tokyo.
Team USA are still undecided on their squad for that event, leaving the door open to Richardson competing.