Who was Sha’Carri Richardson’s mother?
AMERICA'S fastest woman Sha’Carri Richardson could perform an amazing redemption story as she goes for gold in the 100 meters at the World Athletics Championships.
She has courted controversy in recent years, notably when getting kicked off a flight for getting into a row with American Airlines staff.
Richardson, 23, was set to lead Team USA into the Tokyo Games in 2021 but had to serve a 30-day suspension for marijuana use, following the death of her biological mother.
Who is Sha'Carri Richardson's mother?
In 2021, the Dallas-born track star's life was turned upside down just months before the Japan Olympics.
Richardson, who was called a "gold-medal favorite" in the women's 100 meters", failed a drug test that disqualified her from competing in the upcoming Olympic games.
However, it turns out that the then 21-year-old used the drug to deal with her mother's death.
In June, Richardson won the US Olympic Trials 100m in 10.86sec, easily beating rivals Javianne Oliver and Teahna Daniels, but tested positive for marijuana just weeks later.
Richardson used weed, which is legal in the state of Oregon, to cope with the news and get through it all.
In an interview with NBC, the Texan said that her biological mother had passed away a week before the Olympic trials began.
"My family has kept me grounded. This year has been crazy for me," she said.
"Going from, just last week, losing my biological mother, and I'm still here. I'm still here.
"Last week finding out my biological mother passed away and still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here and still making sure to make the family that I do still have on this earth proud."
Richardson did not elaborate on the circumstances of the death of her biological mother.
She continued, "The fact that nobody knows what I go through, everybody has struggles and I understand that but y'all see me on this track and yall see the poker face I put on but [my family] and my coach knows what I go through on a day-to-day basis and I'm highly grateful for them.
"Without them, there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha'Carri Richardson. My family is my everything - my everything until the day I'm done," Richardson said.
Has Richardson apologized for using drugs?
Following the news of her suspension, Richardson apologized to fans after failing a drugs test and being banned from competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I apologize for the fact that I didn't know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time.
“Who am I to tell you how to cope? Who am I to tell you you're wrong for hurting?”
She added: "I just say don't judge me because I am human.
"I'm you, I just happen to run a little faster."
Richardson said she had anticipated that it was going to be a "normal interview".
"To hear that information come from a complete stranger, it was definitely triggering, it was nerve shocking because it's just like, how are you to tell me that? And no offense against him at all.
"He was just doing his job. But definitely, that put me in a state of mind, in a state of emotional panic, if anything."
Richardson added: “If I’m allowed the blessing of competing, I am grateful but this is just one Game.
“This incident was about marijuana, not steroids. After my sanction is up I'll be back and able to compete.”
Richardson, ran 100 meters in 10.86 seconds in Oregon.
The run, however, has been provisionally scrubbed from the record books.
Her best of 10.72sec is the second-fastest in the world this year behind Beijing and London gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
On Tuesday, July 6, Richardson was left off the Olympic roster released by USA Track and Field (USATF), nor was she selected to be a part of the 4x100 relay team.
USATF said in a statement it was “incredibly sympathetic toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances."
“So while our heartfelt understanding lies with Sha’Carri, we must also maintain fairness for all of the athletes who attempted to realize their dreams by securing a place on the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team,” the USATF said in a statement.
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The track star's suspension caught the attention of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who blamed "racism" for the Olympic sprinter's 30-day ban.
Read More on The US Sun
“The criminalization and banning of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial policy,” AOC wrote in a tweet on July 2 calling out the International Olympic Committee reverse banning Richardson.
“The IOC should reconsider its suspension of Ms. Richardson and any athletes penalized for cannabis use.”