UPDATED 2/17, 10:18 a.m.: An International Olympic Committee spokesman has responded to Sha’Carri Richardson, saying there’s “nothing in common” between her case and that of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva.
“You can’t talk about double standards in relation to Russian and American athletes, each case is individual. Richardson’s positive doping test was discovered on 19 June, and the result was received before the start of the Olympics. She was suspended for a month. There is nothing in common between these two cases,” said the IOC’s Mark Adams. “This Games, which has not concluded, concerns an issue in December. [Valieva] is in the centre of a lot of speculation. It must be very tough for her. We of course are in touch with the team, her welfare is the team’s first priority, and obviously we are very careful of that but there’s only so much that we can do.”
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Sha’Carri Richardson has questions.
After Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was given the green light to compete at the 2022 Olympic games in Beijing, the U.S. sprinter asked the Olympics for answers on Twitter.
Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines? My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.
“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines?” Richardson tweeted. “My mother died and I can’t run and was also favored to place top 3. The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady.”
Sha'Carri Richardson called out double standards at the #Olympics, after a Russian athlete could compete despite a failed drug test. Richardson was barred from Tokyo Games after a positive cannabis test in OR, where it is legal: "Only difference I see is I'm a Black young lady."
The sport’s court of arbitration ruled on Monday that 15-year-old Valieva would be able to compete in the Winter Olympics after registering a positive doping test in December, arguing that banning her “would cause her irreparable harm,” per the Guardian. The ruling allows her to compete in Beijing, but could prevent her from further competition or lead to her being stripped of future medals.
This comes months after Richardson tested positive for cannabis—which many have stated is not performance enhancing—after the death of her mother in June of 2021. She was banned for 30 days and missed the 100m in Tokyo as a result.
“How is anyone going to take the women’s event seriously now?” Canadian figure skater Meagan Duhamel said. “We were just told illegal drugs and abuse are OK. If that is what this sport is about now, I want nothing to do with it. February 14 2022. The day the Olympic spirit died.”
Richardson continued sharing her thoughts on Twitter, writing that “it’s all in the skin” and “THC definitely is not a performance enhance[r]!!!!”
It’s all in the skin
Btw THC definitely is not a performance enhance!!!!
Failed in December and the world just now know however my resulted was posted within a week and my name & talent was slaughtered to the people.
Not one BLACK athlete has been about to compete with a case going on, I don’t care what they say!!!
“Failed in December and the world just now know however my resulted was posted within a week and my name & talent was slaughtered to the people,” Richardson wrote for her followers. “Not one BLACK athlete has been about to compete with a case going on, I don’t care what they say!!!”
