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© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Olympics are harder on marijuana than pro sports
By EDDIE PELLS NEW YORK©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
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browny1
The critical point imo is that apparently no slack was cut, even though her mother had just died.
She openly acknowledges she knew what she was doing, but for her own obviously private reasons - no doubt including considerable sadness, stress and memories - she chose to indulge.
The situation is way beyond comparison to cheating athletes use of steroids, stimulants and hormones to improve their actual athletic performances.
Yes it's the rule - but then the rule is an ass. Hopefully for similar future cases a 21stC level of common sense can prevail.
Wolfpack
How is it possible for people who have the discipline to train endlessly to achieve the apex of their sport yet are unable to refrain from breaking the rules required to compete. These athletes are extremely careful about what they put into their body but cannot refrain from smoking a joint?
Although Americans are unable to stop puffing, snorting, and injecting dope the Olympics is an international sporting event. This permissiveness isn’t tolerated in many other nations. Do all nations have to accept America’s values over their own? I think not.
Joe Unc
Marijuana in Japan Oh boy.
HiJapan
Completely legal and taxed by the Government here in Canada.
jojo_in_japan
No one remember Ross Rebagliati won gold at Nagano '98 stonned?!
WA4TKG
Who cares?
“Just say No” to the Olympics
proxy
Marijuana remains an illegal controlled substance in virtually every country in the world so of course athletes that use it should not be allowed to compete.
itsonlyrocknroll
browny1, yes harsh, uncompromising, brutal if one has to select a word.
Have a drink, don't drive but don't take drugs,
browny1
I'm more inclined to suppose that the heavy handedness was applied in this case (rules or not), because it could have been embarrassing to have had a glitzy, over-the-top to some, grass smoking athlete win a gold medal.
Esp so in this the host country where marijuana laws are draconian and the lie constantly perpetuated that weed is the devil incarnate.
No - couldn't have a successful casual indulger. I mean what sort of message will that send to vulnerable kiddies.
IOC is way way out of touch. The sooner it's All Mighty powers are reined in the better for all involved in sports.
itsonlyrocknroll
Cricky, my friend, drugs' are a no no, here, be both know this.
Thomas Tank
hahahahaha
I do that even withOUT marijuana!
theFu
The story above is missing that Sha'Carri Richardson's mother died a week before the trials and that she turned to cannabis to help manage her grief. She knew it would cause her to fail any drug test.
Had she decided to drink instead, then she'd be on the team and going to Japan.
I'm torn. This is no a performance enhancing drug, but it is against the rules. Doritos aren't performance enhancing either. Mexico has legalized recreational cannabis as of last week. Hopefully, the US will soon. It has been a few decades since I last smoked, but I'd rather do that than drink alcohol to excess.
Cricky
It’s not jail? It’s just banning someone from participating! It is legal in a surprising amount of countries. Just not the IOC. That proportion to represent all countries.
itsonlyrocknroll
Cricky, their is no get out of jail free, midday my hands shake. at 30 something. One has to accept the realization. I have employees there families.
Do the hustle
The Olympics are the peak of athletics competition with the world’s best athletes competing. Any athlete who uses recreational drugs while in training for the Olympics deserves to be banned.
Cricky
A country’s laws in this case are a moot point it’s the misnomer named “International” Olympic Committee rules that are at issue here. I’m sure they were warranted in 1950s during that period of reefer madness but in 2021?
Paul
People do become rather philosophical, imaginative and artistic after smocking pot, so could that be a factor?
itsonlyrocknroll
Whether we can agree, the in and out of a ducks backside, you respect a Countries laws.
Have a drink, don't believes for one second, anyone, ingenious or foreign can expect special dispensation!!
Cannot walk around the park throwing hey mans, Simply because its the Olympic Games
Thomas Tank
IOC be like:
marijuana = bad
man competing in women's division = good
Cricky
A rule is just a rule until lit changes, then it’s a new rule. A stupid rule is a stupid rule until it changes too. History has taught us enough people break the rule then the rule doesn’t work. As for being a professional even they have down time and a life outside of a sport.
Paul Lane
Totally legal here in California and Silicon Valley..
Nator
@cricky
Any sport that nerves are a factor like Tennis. I would also think at certain levels Snooker would be advantaged.
These people are top atheletes, they know the rules. It really does not matter about if it enhances or not. It does matter that even though a rule is very clear it has been ignored. I wonder if such people should be let in because maybe they will be less relaxed about the covid rules as well.
Cricky
What a joke! marijuana will hardly enhance your running. Actually I’m trying to think of a sport where it would enhance your performance. And it obviously doesn’t retard your performance as she was picked for the Olympic team. So it doesn’t enhance and doesn’t degrade performance so the ban is because?
‘For no scientific reason at all