“I am Human” – Sha’Carri Richardson

An absolute legend on & off the track, Sha’Carri Richardson has been suspended for one month from the Olympic team for testing positive for THC.   Richardson’s Olympic trial results are disqualified and she will not be allowed to participate in the 100m race at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sha’Carri Richardson appeared on NBC Today releasing a statement to her fans, the sports cannabis community and fellow teammates;

“I just want to take responsibility for my actions, I know what I did, I know what I’m supposed to do, I’m allowed not to do and I still made that decision. I’m not making an excuse or looking for any empathy in my case.”

-Sha’Carri Richardson

This is not the first time an athlete has been penalized for THC use, Professional Snowboarder Ross Rebagliati tested positive for Cannabis after winning Gold at the Nagano Olympics in 1998, causing an uproar of controversy. 

Despite the world shifting, professional sporting leagues adopting new policy and pledging funds toward the research of cannabis, USADA remains a slow adopter of the plant. USADA announced Friday July 02, the suspension of Sha’Carri Richardson after testing positive. 

“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

Let’s be clear, this is not the last that we’ve seen of Sha’Carri Richardson.  Instead this is just the beginning of her Cannabis movement and it’s our chance to stand up and support her.

“Everything I do comes from me naturally. No steroid(s). No anything. This incident was about marijuana. After my sanctions are up, I’ll be back and able to compete and every single time I step on the track I’ll be ready to compete for whatever anti-doping agency to come and get what it is that they need”

-Sha’Carri Richardson

The trend towards normalizing Cannabis is not specific to one country. Athletes around the world are taking part in a global movement to end prohibition.

USE YOUR VOICE – #BREAKTHESTIGMA.