Why did Sha'Carri Richardson not compete in 2020 Tokyo Olympics despite having finished first at trials? Explaining the American's absence 

Sha'Carri Richardson won the 100m finals at the 2021 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in a blistering 10.86s. She was heading as a favorite for the 100m podium at the Tokyo Olympics but days after the Trials, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that Richardson had tested positive for marijuana, and her 100m result at the Trials was disqualified, meaning she would miss the Olympic Games.

Richardson was the favorite to win the 100m event at the Olympic Trials after her collegiate career pursuits, which also saw her break the U20 world record, though her result of 10.75s wasn't ratified by World Athletics. She did exactly what was expected of her, winning the Trials easily in 10.86s to qualify for her maiden Olympic Games.

Following the trials, USADA announced Richardson had tested positive for marijuana and had accepted a one-month suspension for the violations, shocking the entire world. Although several people criticized the ruling, the 24-year-old accepted the decision, stating she had consumed the substance to cope with the death of her biological mother, the news of which she got to know from a reporter a few days before the Trials.

"I know what I'm not allowed to do and I still made that decision. [I'm] not making an excuse or looking for any empathy," she told NBC.

Sha'Carri Richardson’s one-month suspension started on June 28 and ended on the day the 100m qualification rounds were taking place at the Tokyo Olympics. Following the announcement of her suspension, Richardson's name wasn't on the USA Track and Field roster for the Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old later apologized to her fans in a post on X (then Twitter), stating:

"I’m sorry, I can’t be y’all Olympic Champ this year but I promise I’ll be your World Champ next year," she wrote.

But Richardson didn't win the 2022 World Championships. She didn't even qualify for the competition, finishing out of the top 3 at the national championships that year. However, what transpired after that has been nothing short of a dream run.

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Sha'Carri Richardson’s career took off in 2023, and now she is the favorite for the 100m gold at Paris Olympics 2024

2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Sha'Carri Richardson wins 100m (Image via Getty)

Sha'Carri Richardson looked rejuvenated in 2023, winning her first international title at the Doha Diamond League. She clocked 10.76s for the win, beating Jamaica's Shericka Jackson who finished second in 10.85s.

Three months later, Richardson was spotted drying tears of joy in Budapest after she won her maiden world title at the 2023 World Championships. The American clocked a championship record of 10.65s, also making her the joint-fifth fastest woman of all time in the discipline.

Sha'Carri Richardson has lost only three 100m races since the start of the 2023 outdoor season, and she's the world leader in the event with her 10.71s run from the U.S. Olympic Trials. She did spot her name in the USA Track and Field Roster for the Paris Olympics 2024 this time and is now an overwhelming favorite to end Jamaican dominance in the distance.