WORLD Athletics president Sebastian Coe believes Sha’Carri Richardson’s absence at the Tokyo Olympics has been a huge loss.
Coe said yesterday he thinks the marijuana rule that kept Richardson from competing at the games needs to be reviewed, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Marijuana is currently considered a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Coe believes that needs to be re-examined. Coe said he asked Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to work with WADA to determine whether changes should be made.
Coe said it was not “an unreasonable moment” to take a look at marijuana’s status on the banned list.
“It’s not an unreasonable moment to have a review of it,” Coe said. “The AIU will look at this in the light of current circumstances.”

He added that it’s possible to “adapt and occasionally reassess” certain rules.
Richardson was not allowed to run her signature race at the Tokyo Olympics after a pre-Olympics drug test came back positive for marijuana. The drug is decriminalised in many states across the United States, but Richardson was suspended due to marijuana still being on WADA’s banned list.
Richardson’s suspension would have expired by the time of the 4×100 relay event at the Olympics, but the USA Track and Field did not select Richardson to be part of the relay.
Prior to the suspension, Richardson, 21, was expected to be one of thehttps://sports.yahoo.com/olympics-best-athletes-2021-team-usa-110025228.html athletes at the Tokyo Olympics.
WADA’s banned drug list is updated every year, according to the AP, so it’s possible marijuana will no longer be prohibited in 2022. (Yahoo Sports)