Sha’Carri Richardson, Olympic Runner Banned for Cannabis, Asks Why Russian Athlete Can Compete Despite Failing Drug Test

Sha’Carri Richardson, the U.S. track and field star who was denied an Olympic start at the Tokyo Summer Olympics after testing positive for cannabis, this week questioned the decision to let a Russian figure skater compete in the Winter Games despite testing positive for trimetazidine – a substance banned by the Olympics which is typically used to increase blood flow to the heart for patients suffering from chest pains or other heart conditions, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva tested positive for the heart drug at the 2021 Russian Nationals in December but the results only came to light this week after she helped Russia win gold in the figure skating team competition. The medal ceremony was the only consequence, the Sun-Times notes, which is a stark contrast to Richardson’s ban, who was suspended for 30 days after testing positive for cannabis last July. The ban ultimately denied the 100-meter U.S. Track and Field winner a spot at the starter block in Tokyo.

Richardson was also left off the U.S. relay team due to the positive test.

“Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines?” Richardson posted on Twitter.

In their ruling, the International Olympic Committee said Valieva was a “protected person” as a 15-year-old minor, the report says.

Richardson has explained she consumed cannabis to help deal with stress stemming from her mother’s death but her appeals went unanswered last year by the Olympic Committee.