American champion Sha鈥機arri Richardson cannot run in the Olympic 100-meter race after testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana.
Richardson, who won the 100 at Olympic trials in 10.86 seconds on June 19, told of her ban Friday on the 鈥淭oday Show.鈥� She tested positive at the Olympic trials and so her result is erased. Fourth-place finisher Jenna Prandini is expected to get Richardson鈥檚 spot in the 100.
Richardson accepted a 30-day suspension that ends July 27, which would be in time to run in the women鈥檚 relays. USA Track and Field has not disclosed plans for the relay.
The 21-year-old sprinter was expected to face Jamaica鈥檚 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in one of the most highly anticipated races of the Olympic track meet.
On Thursday, as reports swirled about her possible marijuana use, Richardson put out a tweet that said, simply: 鈥淚 am human.鈥� On Friday, she went on TV and said she smoked marijuana as a way of coping with her mother鈥檚 recent death.
鈥淚 was definitely triggered and blinded by emotions, blinded by badness, and hurting, and hiding hurt,鈥� she said on 鈥淭oday.鈥� 鈥淚 know I can鈥檛 hide myself, so in some type of way, I was trying to hide my pain.鈥�
Richardson had what could have been a three-month sanction reduced to one month because she participated in a counseling program.
After the London Olympics, international regulators relaxed the threshold for what constitutes a positive test for marijuana from 15 nanograms per milliliter to 150 ng/m. They explained the new threshold was an attempt to ensure that in-competition use is detected and not use during the days and weeks before competition.
Though there have been wide-ranging debates about whether marijuana should be considered a performance-enhancing drug, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on its website that 鈥渁ll synthetic and naturally occurring cannabinoids are prohibited in-competition, except for cannabidiol (CBD),鈥� a byproduct that is being explored for possible medical benefits.
While not weighing in on her prospects for the relays, USATF put out a statement that said her 鈥渟ituation is incredibly unfortunate and devastating for everyone involved.鈥�
Richardson said if she鈥檚 allowed to run in the relay 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful, but if not, I鈥檓 just going to focus on myself.鈥�
Her case is the latest in a number of doping-related embarrassments for U.S. track team. Among those banned for the Olympics are the reigning world champion at 100 meters, Christian Coleman, who is serving a suspension for missing tests, and the American record holder at 1,500 and 5,000 meters, Shelby Houlihan, who tested positive for a performance enhancer she blamed on tainted meat in a burrito.
Now, Richardson is out, as well, denying the Olympics of a much-hyped race and an electric personality. Richardson raced with flowing orange hair at the trials and long fingernails.
鈥淭o put on a face and go out in front of the world and hide my pain, who am I to tell you how to cope when you鈥檙e dealing with pain and struggles you鈥檝e never had to experience before?鈥� Richardson said.