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Sha'Carri Richardson faced the hardest roadblock of her career at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she was struck out from the finals after a failed drug test. Despite displaying a stellar performance at the 2020 US Olympic trials, she couldn't make her Olympic debut. However, Richardson didn't make any excuse, shouldering the blame for her suspension.
In 2019, Richardson's collegiate record-breaking performance (10.75s) in the 100m cemented her name among the ten fastest women in history. The same year, she set a new personal best of 10.72s in the 100m to secure the fourth position on the all-time fastest list.
In 2021, however, Richardson went into her one-month-long suspension period heartbroken. She had tested positive for THC metabolites just days before the Tokyo Olympics. The test results confirmed that she had been under the influence of cannabis. The USADA barred her from the Tokyo gates, thus ending her chances of having her Olympic debut moment that year.
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In an NBC Today interview right after, she opened up about how she was going about her doping ban around that time. However, she didn't devise any excuse or challenge the USADAs's decision.
"I want to take responsibility for my actions," Richardson said. "I'm not looking for an excuse. I would like to say to my fans and my family and my sponsorship, to the haters, too - I apologize. As much as I’m disappointed, I know that when I step on that track, I don’t represent myself, I represent a community that has shown me great support, great love."
Sha'Carri Richardson has been an indomitable force since her 2023 World Championships stint where she won the 100m and 4x100m relay gold medals. Earlier in 2023, she also clinched the US Outdoor Track and Field Championships 100m title, the springboard event for the 2023 World Championships.
Representing the Black athletic community of the US, Sha'Carri Richardson apologized for letting down those who had kept faith in her.
Sha'Carri Richardson was coping with her mother's loss
While the US Olympic trials were underway, a reporter walked up to Sha'Carri Richardson to break the news of her mother's passing. Naturally, the news, that too from a stranger, came as a shock to her. In an interview with NBC Today, she admitted taking cannabis to deal with the grief of her biological mother's loss.
"However, being in that position in my life, finding out something like that ... Dealing with the relationship I have with my mother, that definitely was a very heavy topic on me. I was definitely triggered and blinded by emotions, blinded by sadness, and hurting, and hiding hurt," Richardson said while explaining her actions.
