Sha’ Carri & The Oympics
The Pressures Of An Emerging Diamond
Like Naomi, Kyrie, and others before her, the tale of Sha’carri Richardson will serve as a cautionary tale for the good, bad, and human traits of the modern-day athlete.
The 21-year old sprinter was banned from this year’s Olympic competition following her World Anti-Doping Agency violation for Marijuana. Though the product has become more normalized in recent years, WADA rules and regulations have a zero-tolerance policy of athletes leading up to the event.
This caused an initial uproar in support of Richardson, who with multiple sub-11 second runs for the 100 metre was destined to get gold in Tokyo, the first time an American talent has accomplished the feat since Gail Devers in Atlanta. Fellow athletes took to social media and continue to do so. Among them was fellow sprinter and Gold Medalist Usain Bolt, who extended his well wishes to the young runner in a recent interview.
Richardson, mourning the passing of her late mother, had acknowledged that she knew of the regulations, but proceeded to use the substance.
This had spiraled into debate on television, where sports analysts would acknowledge her grief, but criticized Richardson for knowingly compromising her future.
Other analysts would turn to WADA for its outdated regulations for competition, even blasting the institution in general for inconsistencies within the events; pointing to Michael Phelps’ positive testing post-competition and transitioning genders competing in male/female competitions.
And social commentator, Joe Rogan took it a step beyond that.
Ultimately, the biggest contingent centers around the fact of following rules, however for Richardson, in ways this may serve as a transitioning period for the particular rule, and most importantly, reinforce the power of understanding.
The sprinter earned her 100 meter berth with her mother’s passing looming, a feat would’ve been impossible for the average. Unfortunately, the humane aspect comes second to the extraordinary. The hope? She can salvage her shortcomings and come out stronger, perform in a fashion that she and all her fans be proud of.
