'Rules are Rules': Says President Joe Biden on Sha'Carri Richardson's Tokyo Olympics Suspension
President Joe Biden reacted to the one-month suspension given to American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson after the athlete tested positive for marijuana. Biden commented on the issue during an event in Michigan on Saturday, without criticizing the penalty awarded to Richardson, arguing that "the rules are the rules," according to a report from Forbes.
"Everybody knows what rules were going in," President Biden said.
President Biden's comments came out as the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) gave Richardson a one-month suspension on Friday. Sha'Carri Richardson's positive marijuana test prohibited her to participate in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, through the removal of her win at a 100-meter sprint event. The suspension to the American sprinter outraged the fans, arguing that "it was unfair" to penalize an athlete with a drug "most Americans think should be legal."
President Biden Lauded American Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson's Response on the Suspension
Although President Biden reiterated the rules that govern Richardson's suspension, the U.S. chief executive also lauded how the American sprinter handled the consequences of her actions.
"I was really proud of how she responded [on the suspension]," Biden said.
It can be remembered that earlier, the American sprinted apologized for her actions, and admitted to taking the drug. Richardson confirmed that she ingested the marijuana while she was in Oregon.
"I know what I did and what I'm not supposed to do," Richardson said in an interview, cited by Sports Illustrated. The athlete also underscored that she wants to "take responsibility" for what she did, which resulted in her Tokyo Olympic suspension.
Stemmed Out From Mother's Death
During Richardson's interview, Insider emphasized that the athlete confessed to taking marijuana after learning about her mother's death through a reporter. The American sprinter noted that she got the news a few days before the U.S. Olympics Trials began.
"Being in that position in my life, finding out something like that... Dealing with the relationship I have with my mother, that definitely was a very heavy topic on me," Richardson said during her interview. The athlete also noted that she was blinded by emotions with her aim to hide the pain she felt.
The athlete also noted that hearing the story from a "stranger" was "nerve shocking" and triggering. However, Richardson did not blame the reporter who told her about the death of her loved one.
"No offense to him at all, he was just doing his job, but it put me in a state of panic," Richardson said.
Despite taking marijuana in Oregon where it was legal, USADA's rule prohibits athletes from taking the drug. On Friday, USADA's Chief Executive Travis Tygart noted that the rules were clear but the decision given to Richardson was "heartbreaking in many levels."
Although suspended from Tokyo Olympics, Sha'Carra Richardson shared that she still intends to compete in Olympics after returning from her ban.
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