‘Honesty and Accountability’ – Nike Extends Support to USA’s Suspended Athlete at Tokyo Olympics 2021

Sha’Carri Richardson was dramatically suspended from the USA’s track and field team for Tokyo Olympics 2021 after she tested positive for marijuana. This ruled her out of the Olympics, where she was a heavy favorite for the 100 meters. However, she will remain a Nike athlete as the sports goods giant is supporting her in this tough time.

Nike’s statement highlights that they are trusting Sha’Carri Richardson’s accountability and honesty. And hence she remains a Nike athlete since first signing in 2019, even after this controversy. Nike statement: “We appreciate Sha’Carri’s honesty and accountability and will continue to support her through this time.”

Sha’Carri Richardson on her suspension from Tokyo Olympics 2021

After news broke out about her suspension, Richardson gave her statement and took the responsibility for her actions. Moreover, she was honest and accepted the suspension.

“I want to take responsibility for my actions. I know what I did, I know what I’m supposed to do … and I still made that decision. “(I’m) not making an excuse or looking for any empathy in my case, but, however, being in that position in my life, finding out something like that, something that I would say is probably one of the biggest things that have impacted me … that definitely was a very heavy topic on me,” Richardson said.

Richardson was one of the prime sprinters for the 100m gold medal. She clocked a time of 10.86 seconds to win the US Olympics track and field trials that concluded a week back. However, she lost her mother before the race and got to know about it after the race. From the joys of qualifying for the Olympics, Richardson had to deal with the sad demise of her mother. Hence marijuana was one way to cope with it.

“People don’t understand what it’s like 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 the pain or you’re dealing with a struggle that you haven’t experienced before or that you thought you never would have to deal with?”  she said.

Marijuana has been placed as a performance-enhancing drug by the World Anti-Doping Agency. But there is a lot of debate and speculation regarding it. Fans have outraged against the decision, citing older examples of when Olympic legend, Michael Phelps used to consume marijuana.

Fans Enraged as Sha’Carri Richardson Falls in Same Trap as Michael Phelps Ahead of Tokyo Olympics 2021