Celebrities have begun to voice their opinion after Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended by the U.S Anti-Doping Agency for failing a drug test.
USADA announced Friday that Richardson was suspended after marijuana was detected in her system. This invalidated Richardson’s performance in the U.S. Olympic trials, Eugene, Oregon where she won the 100-meter run for women. The suspension will also stop Richardson, 21 years old, from participating in her signature event at Tokyo Olympics later in the month.
Richardson apologized on Friday’s “Today” program on NBC, taking full responsibility for the positive test.
“I know what happened. I know what I should do. She said that she knew what I was allowed to do and made the decision.
Richardson stated that she had consumed marijuana following an interview in which a reporter told her her biological mother had passed away. Richardson said that the marijuana was a burden on her emotions as she approached her first Olympic trials. She was the heavy favorite and it caused her to experience emotional panic.
Jonathan Van Ness, Gabrielle Union, and Seth Rogen were among the celebrities who took to social media to show their love for Richardson. They also called the USADA’s decision “insane and dumb.”
Rogen, who runs his own cannabis business, stated that the decision was “rootedin racism” and “hatred.”
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Rogen stated that the notion that marijuana is a dangerous ‘drug is rooted in racism. It’s absurd that Team USA would choose to disqualify one our most talented athletes because it’s rooted with hatred. They should be ashamed. He also said that weed could make you faster, and he was referring to Florence Griffith Joyner who is an all-time great Olympic runner, with whom Richardson has been compared.