Sha’Carri Richardson rips figure skater decision: ‘Only difference I see is I’m a black young lady’

Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson is questioning why she was not allowed to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for marijuana, while Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was cleared to compete in the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing after testing positive for the banned drug trimetazidine. 

Valieva will be allowed to compete, but if she finishes in the top three of an event, medals will be withheld from her until an investigation into her doping case is concluded.

“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines?” Richardson asked on Twitter, quote tweeting a USA Today article about the decision to allow Valieva to continue competing. “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.”

Richardson was set to represent Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, but was suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for marijuana. She was suspended before the Olympics began.

The decision caused major backlash, prompting many to question the prohibition against marijuana. 

“Btw THC definitely is not a performance enhance!!!!” Richardson said.

Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine in December. The drug is typically used for chest pain and increases blood flow to the heart but is also categorized as a “hormone and metabolic modulator” by the World Anti-Doping Agency. 

The Court of Arbitration for Sport held a hearing on the case on Sunday, where the International Olympic Committee [IOC] asked that the panel suspend her from the competition.

However, the IOC announced on Monday that the 15-year-old skater was permitted to compete, but that her medals will be withheld until her doping case is settled. The Court of Arbitration for Sport said that Valieva’s age was one of the factors in their choice.

Richardson further criticized the decision, saying that no Black athlete would not be able to compete with an ongoing case.

“It’s all in the skin,” Richardson said.

“Not one BLACK athlete has been about to compete with a case going on, I don’t care what they say!!!” the sprinter added.

United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee CEO Sarah Hirshland expressed her disappointment with the decision.

“We are disappointed by the message this decision sends,” Hirshland said in a statement. “It is the collective responsibility of the entire Olympic community to protect the integrity of sport and to hold our athletes, coaches, and all involved to the highest of standards.”