The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to allow a White Russian figure skater to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics despite failing a drug test isn’t sitting down well with Sha’Carri Richardson. And the U.S. track and field star made her feelings known as she accused officials of racial double standards.
In a series of tweets on Monday, the 21-year-old questioned why she received a 30-day suspension after testing positive for marijuana while 15-year-old Kamila Valieva was allowed to compete despite reportedly testing positive for trimetazidine, a heart drug.
Richardson’s tweets were in response to a USA TODAY article in which sports columnist Christine Brennan said Valieva receiving the green light to compete despite failing the drugs test “is just a slap in the face to all of those athletes doing it the right way.”
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The court reportedly justified its decision by stating Valieva’s age makes her a “protected person” and the rules for adult athletes don’t apply to her as a result. But Richardson suggested the 15-year-old got a pass because of her race.
“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,” Richardson tweeted. “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? 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. https://t.co/JtUfmp3F8L
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) February 14, 2022
“It’s all in the skin,” she wrote in another post.
It’s all in the skin
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) February 14, 2022
Richardson received a 30-day suspension in July after she tested positive for marijuana. The suspension, which nullified her women’s 100-meter victory in the Olympic qualifiers, prevented her from competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Richardson said she used the banned drug for coping purposes after she learned about the death of her biological mother while she was competing in the Olympic trials in Oregon, The New York Times reported.
“Btw THC [the main psychoactive compound in marijuana] definitely is not a performance enhance!!!! [sic]” Richardson also stated.
Btw THC definitely is not a performance enhance!!!!
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) February 14, 2022
