Sha’Carri Richardson Says She Wishes She Never Spoke Out After Being Banned From 2021 Summer Olympics Due To Testing Positive For Weed

Sha’Carri Richardson Says She Wishes She Never Spoke Out After Being Banned From 2021 Summer Olympics Due To Testing Positive For Weed

It appears Sha’Carri Richardson has regrets about how she handled her positive marijuana test controversy, which led to her Olympic suspension last summer.

Nearly a year after the controversial moment, Sha’Carri Richardson, 22, took to social media on Tuesday (Jun.21) and retweeted her 2021 “Today Show” interview in which she discussed the matter.” However, Sha’Carri is now expressing regret about doing the interview. She wrote,

“I wish I never did this . I wish I had the choice when it was time for me to tell my story.”

During her 2021 TODAY Show interview, Sha’Carri addressed how losing her mother played a hand in her decision to smoke weed. She said:

“Honestly, I wanna take responsibility for my actions. I know what I did, I know what I’m supposed to do, I know what I’m not allowed to do, and I still made that decision. But I’m not making an excuse, I’m not looking for any empathy in my case. However, being in that position of my life [and] finding out [about my mother’s passing] definitely was a very heavy topic on me.”

She continued,

“To put on a face, to have to go in front of the world and put on a face and hide my pain… Who am I to tell you how to cope when you’re dealing with a pain or a struggle that you’ve never experienced before, or that you’ve never thought you’d have to deal.”

As previously reported, Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended from Team USA  last July over a positive drug test for THC–the chemical in marijuana–which resulted in her being banned from competition at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. While the use of recreational cannabis is legal in the state of Oregon–where she tested positive–marijuana is still considered a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and USA Track and Field. The 22-year-old athlete, who ran the 100-meter dash in 10.72 seconds last year, making her one of the fastest women in history, was suddenly disqualified from the Olympics.

Sha’Carri Richardson

Sha’Carri Richardson wrapped up her interview by acknowledging her struggle of trying to accomplish her Olympic dream while coping with the sudden loss of her biological mother who died just 1 week before her race. She said:

“[I was] just blinded by emotions, blinded by sadness, blinded by just hurting. Hiding hurt, honestly. But the fact [is] that I couldn’t hide myself, so–at least in some type of way–I was just trying to hide my pain.”

In February, Sha’Carri Richardson made headlines again when she publicly questioned the Olympics on their decision to allow Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, 15, the opportunity to stay and compete after testing positive for the banned heart drug, Trimetazidine. Richardson reposted and responded to a USA TODAY video clip that revealed the Court of Arbitration for Sports’ decision to allow Valieva to compete in this year’s Winter Olympics. Richardson wrote,

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

Can we get a solid answer on the difference of her situation and mines? 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. https://t.co/JtUfmp3F8L

— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) February 14, 2022

What are your thoughts on Sha’Carri Richardson regretting her interview and feeling pressured at the time to share her story? Let us know in the comments below!

[VIA]