AOC Blasts Olympic Committee For Disqualifying Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson Over Marijuana Test

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known as AOC, asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reconsider the anti-doping policy on Friday. This came after the suspension of US sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson due to the detection of marijuana after last month’s US Olympic trials.

Cortez wrote to IOC on her Twitter handle and said, "The criminalization and banning of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial policy." She added that "The IOC should reconsider its suspension of Ms Richardson and any athletes penalized for cannabis use."

The criminalization and banning of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial policy.

The IOC should reconsider its suspension of Ms. Richardson and any athletes penalized for cannabis use. This ruling along w/ IOC denial of swim caps for natural hair is deeply troubling. https://t.co/Ao1Yu8Ax9G

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 2, 2021

Richardson faced a one-month ban following the test result for being positive for chemicals found in marijuana. The US Sprinter has won the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.86 seconds at the trials in Eugene, Oregon, on June 19. The ban has put Richardson out of the race of the world’s fastest woman. Her ban would run through July 27. Though Richardson can still run in the 4X100-meter relay at this summer’s Tokyo Olympics.

Many fellow athletes, politicians and Americans have extended their support for Richardson and have tweeted against the suspension of Richardson from the Tokyo Olympics for a month. American Attorney Ben Crump tweeted saying, "Marijuana is NOT a performance-enhancing drug and it’s legal in her state."

Sha’Carri Richardson should be allowed to compete in the Olympic Trials and the Olympics. Anything less is an injustice. Marijuana is NOT a performance-enhancing drug and it’s legal in her state.

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 3, 2021

American actor, producer and writer, Billy Baldwin tweeted if Richardson doesn't compete then he will ban the Olympics 2021.

Cannabis helps millions every day. This was not a PED.

If they don’t let Sha’Carri Richardson compete… I will boycott the summer 2021 Olympics.#ShaCarriRichardson ♥️ pic.twitter.com/bs32wWZnO1

— Billy Baldwin (@BillyBaldwin) July 3, 2021

Robert Reich who is an American economist, professor, author, and political commentator also tweeted about Richardson's suspension.

So let me get this straight: Elon Musk can smoke a joint on Joe Rogan's podcast and SpaceX gets millions in federal contracts, but Sha'Carri Richardson tests positive for THC and she's disqualified from the Olympics?

— Robert Reich (@RBReich) July 3, 2021

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had relaxed the thresholds after the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The policy constitutes a positive marijuana test from 15 nanograms per millilitre to 150 nanograms per millilitre which would detect the use during the competition and not days or weeks before it.

Yet, it remains a "Substance of Abuse" in the WADA’s list of prohibited substances. These also include cocaine, ecstasy and heroin.