Sha’Carri Richardson is officially an Olympian! But earning this title was hard enough for her! After the ban on the Olympic run in 2021, she defied the odds to secure her spot on the June 22, 2024 trials. What this tag means to SCR was crystal clear as soon as she realized she had done it. She placed her hands on her chest, appearing close to tears, truly wearing her heart on her sleeve. Crossing the 100m finish line in 10.71 seconds marked Richardson’s end of three years of blood, sweat, and tears.

However, it could have been her second Olympics if she hadn’t faced a one-month suspension in 2021, which caused her to miss the Tokyo Games. Following her suspension, she made a comeback at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in the 100m event but hit a roadblock, finishing last with a time of 11.14 seconds. “This is just one race,” she asserted in an interview afterward. “You know what I’m capable of. Count me out if you want to. Talk all the s–t you want cuz I’m here to stay.” Since then, she has proven her mettle and risen to where she is now. But Was her Tokyo ban justified, and what led to her suspension?

Was banning Sha’Carri Richardson from the Tokyo Olympics justified?

On June 19, 2021, Sha’Carri Richardson was poised as a favorite in the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics. She secured her spot in the Games by winning the U.S. Olympic trials with an impressive time of 10.86 seconds. However, shortly after her victory, she tested positive for THC, the primary compound found in cannabis, during a post-race drug test. Then, 21 years old, Richardson revealed she had used marijuana to cope with the devastating news that her biological mother had passed away, information she received from a reporter just days before the trials began. However, SCR was raised by her grandmother and aunt since childhood as she faced rejection from her biological mother.

As a consequence, she accepted a one-month suspension, which started on June 28, 2021, and ended on July 27. The Tokyo Olympics, however, took place from July 23 to August 8. Notably, the women’s 4×100-meter relay in Tokyo occurred on August 5, an event where Richardson could have potentially competed. The governing body of USA Track & Field had the option to add her to the relay team. Unfortunately, this chance did not come to fruition.

The suspension of Richardson sparked a discussion, about the legalization of marijuana in Oregon, where the Olympic trials were held. Nonetheless, all types of cannabinoids continued to be prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. CEO Travis Tygart stated, “The rules are clear, but this is heartbreaking on many levels.” However, what stung the most was how SCR was treated after the ban, including being compelled to give interviews.

“Dreams Like This Come True”- From Olympics ban to making history

Sha’Carri Richardson expressed regret on Twitter for her decision to open up in an interview following her Olympics ban in 2021. In 2022, she spoke on the TODAY show, explaining that she now wishes she had never done so. “I wish I never did this,” she tweeted alongside a clip from the interview. “I wish I had the choice when it was time for me to tell my story.” While she hasn’t disclosed her side of the story, but she proved she’s “that girl.”

Sha’Carri Richardson had a start at the 2023 World Championships, in Budapest. She set a record in the women’s 100m with a remarkable time of 10.65 seconds earning her first international title. Surpassing Shericka Jackson (silver, 10.72 seconds) and Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce (bronze, 10.77 seconds) from Jamaica she secured the win. That’s not all! Richardson also clinched a bronze in the 200m race and a gold medal victory in the 4x100m relay team.

“Dreams like this come true…. I’ve been working on all season,” she remarked after winning the women’s relay gold. And now she is moving towards her dream, “Paris Olympics” and she is the favorite to win it. Despite facing a rocky road, she proved she was back in the game, stronger than ever. Against all odds, she showed that she had the grit to go the distance, turning a setback into a comeback.