Sha’Carri Richardson’s dashed Olympic hopes ignite debate over marijuana

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(NEW YORK) — The suspension of Sha’Carri Richardson, the sprinter who finished first in the 100-meter dash at the U.S. Olympic trials, over a failed drug test for marijuana has already sparked calls from advocates for a change within the international sports world.

Although the 21-year-old told reporters she used marijuana during the Olympic trials in Oregon, which has legalized the substance for recreational use, as a way to cope with the loss of her birth mother, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suspended her for 30 days citing the World Anti-Doping Agency’s ban on cannabis.

Marijuana legalization advocates said Richardson’s case should propel the U.S. to urge international sports leaders to take a hard look at the association’s rules and the reasoning behind them.

“America is the birthplace of harsh cannabis policies and like many things we exported it around the world,” Matthew Schweich, the deputy director of the nonprofit group the Marijuana Policy Project, told ABC News. “There’s a lot that needs to be undone.”

However, Schweich and other experts warned that this battle will be a marathon and not a sprint due to the rest of the world’s strict policies on marijuana use.

“I don’t think you’ll see the world community will flip a switch [on cannabis rules] just because the United States says it’s legal,” Mark Conrad, the director of the sports business program at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, told ABC News.

Cannabis has been on the WADA list of banned substances since 2004. A substance is banned by the association if it meets two out of three criteria: “potential to or enhances sport performance”; “actual or potential risk to health” and “against the spirit of sport.” Athletes can apply for a “therapeutic use exemption” with a doctor’s approval if they need medical cannabis.

In 2011, WADA published a paper in Sports Medicine explaining why marijuana fit all three criteria. As a performance enhancer, the paper stated the substance “reduces anxiety, allowing athletes to better perform under pressure.” For risk to health, the paper said marijuana causes “slower reaction times and poor executive function or decision making.” And as a sign of it being against the spirit of sport the paper said it’s “not consistent with the athlete as a role model for young people around the world.”

Schweich said that the organization’s reasoning is hypocritical given that alcohol and nicotine are permitted by WADA even though they have similar effects on the body.

“The World Anti-Doping Agency is supposed to stop doping,” he said. “Sha’Carri Richardson’s marijuana use has nothing to do with doping.”

Schweich said WADA’s research on cannabis’ effect on performance is questionable given other studies in recent years. A 2018 study published in The Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine found “no evidence for cannabis use as a performance-enhancing drug.”

The paper’s researchers looked at data from previous studies on cannabis in sports dating as far back as the 1960s. They did not take into account the number of participants in each previous study nor the magnitude of effect within each individual study when making their conclusions.

“Medical and nonmedical cannabis use among athletes reflects changing societal and cultural norms and experiences,” researchers wrote in their conclusion.

Dr. Niteesh Bharara, a sports medicine and regenerative medicine physician at the Virginia Spine Institute, told ABC News that some of his athletes use marijuana for recovery. Cannabis mostly helps those patients with pain and modulating spasms, he said.

“Now, I don’t see it as a performance-enhancing drug, though. It has no evidence that it does actually improve performance,” Bharara told ABC News.

Conrad said Richardson’s case wasn’t the first time WADA’s rules have come up for debate. He noted there are many medications on the banned substance list that have been questioned by athletes and coaches, such as legal decongestants and cold medicines.

However, when it came to cannabis, Conrad, who teaches law and ethics, said there is a bigger hill to climb since almost all countries, including Olympic host nation Japan, have deemed the substance illegal for any use.

“The system is an international system and the U.S. is really just a small part of that,” he said.

Conrad said WADA will likely amend its rules on cannabis as more places legalize the substance, but that move will take time and more calls from world leaders.

Still, Richardson’s situation has sparked some calls for change from prominent American leaders and organizations. Last week, when asked about her suspension, President Joe Biden told reporters that the “rules were the rules,” but added, “whether those should remain … is a different issue.”

In announcing that Richardson would not be going to Tokyo, the U.S. Track and Field team said its athletes “must adhere to the current anti-doping code,” but also said “that the merit of the World Anti-Doping Agency rules related to THC should be reevaluated.”

Schweich said he’s disappointed that the president hasn’t taken more action to defend Richardson and protest WADA’s policy. He noted that the argument would be stronger if there was a national change to the marijuana laws.

“Federal reform sends a powerful message to the world,” he said.

Schweich reiterated that the federal government will have to address the issue soon as more states legalize the substance.

As of July 7, 18 states and the District of Columbia allow for recreational and medicinal marijuana for adults. In the last year, seven states have legalized it through voter referendums or legislative action.

In the meantime, Schweich said Richardson’s plight has resonated with a lot of Americans who have lived through personal losses and turned to cannabis for relief.

“Sometimes it takes real lives and real stories to shift people’s opinion,” he said.

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Scoreboard roundup — 7/7/21

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati 5, Kansas City 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay 8, Cleveland 1
Chi White Sox 6, Minnesota 1
Tampa Bay 4, Cleveland 0
Detroit 5, Texas 3
LA Angels 5, Boston 4
Toronto 10, Baltimore 2
Houston 4, Oakland 3
NY Yankees 5, Seattle 4

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta 14, Pittsburgh 3
NY Mets 4, Milwaukee 3
Milwaukee 5, NY Mets 0
Miami 9, LA Dodgers 6
Chi Cubs 8, Philadelphia 3
Arizona 6, Colorado 4
San Francisco 5, St. Louis 2
Washington 10, San Diego 5

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final Tampa Bay 1, Montreal 0 (Tampa Bay wins series 4-1)

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Minnesota 85, Dallas 79
Seattle 71, Los Angeles 62
Phoenix 99, Las Vegas 90 (OT)

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Toronto FC 3, New England 2
CF Montreal 2, New York City FC 1
Chicago 3, Orlando City 1
Seattle 2, Houston 0
Los Angeles FC 2, Austin FC 0
Colorado 2, Minnesota 0
Real Salt Lake 4, Vancouver 0
LA Galaxy 3, FC Dallas 1

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Suns lose Šarić to ACL injury

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(PHOENIX) — Phoenix has announced forward/center Dario Šarić tore his ACL during game one of the NBA Finals Tuesday night. 

The team said he is out indefinitely. 

The injury happened late in the first quarter when Šarić drove the lane and his right knee appeared to buckle when he planted his feet in the paint. 

He checked out of the game and could be seen limping to the locker room. 

“It’s just one of those situations that literally breaks your heart,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Dario is a guy that I’ve been with twice. I coached him in Philly, and to get a chance to be with him here, he’s what Suns basketball is about. Hard worker, unbelievable guy, and he was so looking forward to playing in these Finals.”

Saric averaged 4.5 points in 10.5 minutes of action during the post-season.

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Killorn out as Lightning look to clinch back-to-back titles

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(TAMPA BAY) — Tampa Bay can clinch its second straight Stanley Cup championship tonight at home against Montreal. 

The Lightning are up 3-1 in the series after dropping game four in Montreal. 

Tampa Bay will likely be without forward Alex Killorn again, according to head coach Jon Cooper.

“I’d say Killorn is probably in the same situation he was the last game,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “Probably doubtful.”

Killorn took part in pre-game warm-ups during game four but did not play. 

He has missed the past three games since taking a puck off a skate in game one. The forward has 8 goals and 9 assists this postseason. 

Cooper said he doesn’t expect any lineup changes ahead of the game. 

Tampa Bay can become the first team to win the Stanley Cup at home since 2015 when the Chicago Blackhawks beat Tampa Bay. 

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CFL, XFL agree to end talks on partnership

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(NEW YORK) — The Canadian Football League and the XFL have agreed to stop collaboration between the two leagues. 

The CFL announced the decision in a statement. 

“Our talks with the XFL, exploring the potential for collaboration and innovation, have been positive and constructive. While we remain open to finding new ways to work together in the future, we and our XFL counterparts have jointly decided to not pursue any formal arrangements at this time,” the statement said. 

The CFL begins its season on August 5 and will run to December 12, where the champion will be crowned at the 108th Grey Cup. 

The league canceled its 2020 season after failing to secure a loan from the Canadian government. 

In March, the league’s announced they would be working together to “collaborate, innovate, and grow the game of football.”

“It’s clear through our early conversations that we share a passion for football, an expansive sense of possibility, and a deep desire to create more opportunity for players and fans across North America and around the world. Blending the CFL’s rich heritage with our fresh thinking, and the unique reach and experience of our ownership, could be transformative for the game,” said Jeffrey Pollack, the XFL president, and CEO, in a statement at the time. 

The 2022 XFL season was put on hold while conversations with the CFL were ongoing. 

The second iteration of the XFL began in 2020. The season was canceled after five games because of the coronavirus pandemic. Owner Vince McMahon then put the league in bankruptcy proceedings. 

Dany Garcia, Dwayne Johnson, and RedBird Capital Partners bought the league for $15 million last summer.

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Scoreboard roundup — 7/6/21

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Tuesday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Kansas City 7, Cincinnati 6

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Baltimore 7, Toronto 5
Texas 10, Detroit 5
Chi White Sox 4, Minnesota 1
Houston 9, Oakland 6
LA Angels 5, Boston 3
NY Yankees 12, Seattle 1
Cleveland at Tampa Bay (Postponed)

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pittsburgh 2, Atlanta 1
Miami 2, LA Dodgers 1
Philadelphia 15, Chi Cubs 10
Arizona 4, Colorado 3
St. Louis 6, San Francisco 5
San Diego 7, Washington 4
Milwaukee at NY Mets (Postponed)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Phoenix 118, Milwaukee 105 (Phoenix leads series 1-0)

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Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson left off US relay team, will miss Tokyo Olympics

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(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.) — Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson will officially not be running at the Tokyo Olympics.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Olympic track and field team released its roster for the games, which featured a handful of veterans and 81 first-time Olympians — but not Richardson.

In June, Richardson won the 100 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, making her the fastest woman in America and positioning her to compete for the gold in Tokyo. However, her chances of participating in the 100 meters at the Olympics were erased last week after it was announced she had tested positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana.

Richardson accepted a 30-day suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for the violation, which would end on July 27 — in time for her to run in the women’s 100-meter relay in Tokyo beginning Aug. 5. But the runner ultimately was not offered a spot on the Olympic team.

“We are incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances and strongly applaud her accountability — and will offer her our continued support both on and off the track,” USATF said in a statement following their decision to leave Richardson off the Olympics team.

“While USATF fully agrees that the merit of the World Anti-Doping Agency rules related to THC should be reevaluated, it would be detrimental to the integrity of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field if USATF amended its policies following competition, only weeks before the Olympic games,” USATF added, saying that all USATF athletes must adhere to the current anti-doping rules.

“Our heartfelt understanding lies with Sha’Carri,” USATF said. “We must also maintain fairness for all of the athletes who attempted to realize their dreams by securing a place on the U.S. Track & Field Team.”

Richardson’s win at the Olympic trials came after her biological mother died a week earlier.

“Last week, finding out my biological mother passed away and still choosing to pursue my dreams — nobody knows what I go through,” she told reporters at the time.

Richardson has the second-fastest 100-meter dash in the world this year, behind Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Jenna Prandini, who also qualified in the 200 meters, will take Richardson’s spot in the 100 meters and Gabby Thomas, also a 200-meter runner, was named to the final spot on the 4×100 team.

In an interview with NBC last week, Richardson spoke out about her failed drug test and apologized, saying she didn’t know how to deal with her emotions.

“Don’t judge me, because I am human,” Richardson said. “I just happen to run a little faster.”

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All eyes on Suns, Bucks ahead of NBA Finals

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(PHOENIX) — The stage is set for Game 1 of the NBA Finals Tuesday night.

The Phoenix Suns will battle it out with the Milwaukee Bucks as both teams look to take home the title.

The Suns are seeking to win their first ever championship while Milwaukee is hoping to add its second title in franchise history. The Bucks were last crowned champions 50 years ago with star Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Game 1 tips off in Phoenix at 9 p.m. ET.

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Scoreboard roundup — 7/5/21

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(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Monday’s sports events:

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati 6, Kansas City 2

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota 8, Chi White Sox 5
Tampa Bay 9, Cleveland 8
Detroit 7, Texas 3
Boston 5, LA Angels 4

NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis 5, San Francisco 3
NY Mets 4, Milwaukee 2
Miami 5, L.A. Dodgers 4
Pittsburgh 11, Atlanta 1
Philadelphia 13, Chi Cubs 3
Washington 7, San Diego 5

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Montreal 3 Tampa Bay 2 (OT) (Montreal leads series 3-1)

WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
New York 99, Dallas 96

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Columbus Blue Jackets’ Matiss Kivlenieks dies in fireworks accident

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(NEW YORK) — A mishap involving fireworks on the Fourth of July took the life of Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks, investigators said.

First responders in Oakland County, Michigan, rushed to the scene of the incident Sunday night where they found the 24-year-old injured, the Blue Jackets said in a statement. Kivlenieks succumbed to his injuries soon after help arrived, the team said.

Although an early statement from the Blue Jackets said initial information showed Kivlenieks suffered a head injury, a representative from the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office told ABC News that Kivlenieks’ cause of death was “chest trauma” from a fireworks mortar blast. The manner of death was ruled accidental, according to the medical examiner.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the police.

The Latvia native signed with the team in May 2017. Kivlenieks made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 19, 2020, stopping 31 of 32 shots in a victory against the New York Rangers.

The Blue Jackets left a couple of hockey sticks outside the Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Monday afternoon as a tribute to Kivlenieks.

His teammates shared their condolences on social media throughout the day.

Blue Jackets center Nathan Gerbe tweeted a photo of his kids playing on the ice with Kivlenieks.

“Words are hard to find right now, but the day we put the same jersey on meant that we would be family forever. When my kids play Kivi ‘the kid’ in goal it will have a greater meaning!!” Gerbe wrote.

John Davidson, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations, gave his condolences to Kivlenieks’ family.

“Kivi was an outstanding young man who greeted every day and everyone with a smile, and the impact he had during his four years with our organization will not be forgotten,” Davidson said in a statement.

 

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