The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is likely to keep cannabis on its list of prohibited substances for 2023, according to a Health - Injuries. An advisory group reviewed its inclusion on the list over the past year after American sprint champion Sha’Carri Richardson’s disqualification Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.
A draft of the list, which will be finalized with WADA’s Executive Committee at their September 23 meeting, still includes cannabis, according to the WSJ. Cannabinoids are categorized as substances of abuse, next to cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. An out-of-competition positive test carries a penalty of a three-month suspension which can be reduced to one month with the completion of a treatment program. The previous sentence, which was reduced by WADA just last year, carried a suspension of up to two to four years from competition.
Richardson was the star of the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer when she won the 100-meter final in 10.86, capturing the heart of the nation with her big personality, competitive flair and a candid post-race interview where she revealed she had recently lost her biological mother.
After the race, she tested positive for a substance found in marijuana, and she later said that she used the drug to cope with the news of her mother’s passing. The one-month suspension meant she would not be able to compete at the Tokyo Olympics. Her suspension attracted widespread attention from professional athletes, celebrities and politicians. U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez wrote a letter to the heads of WADA and USADA urging the governing bodies to reconsider penalties for recreational marijuana use.
report from The Wall Street Journal.
The Dutch anti-doping committee has advocated for the removal of cannabis from the banned substance list. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) lobbied for the scientific review of cannabis, but according to WADA, the agency did not request its outright removal.
“For almost a decade, USADA has advocated for the WADA to change its approach to marijuana so a positive test is not a violation unless it was intentionally used to enhance performance or endangers the health or safety of competitors,” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart said to the WSJ.
Richardson has struggled to find the same spark she had in 2021, failing to advance past the first round of the 100 meters at the U.S. Outdoor Championships this summer. She placed seventh in the Diamond League final in 11.13 last week.
Johanna Gretschel is a freelance writer and broadcaster living in Austin, Texas, who has covered elite track and field and running in all its forms. She contributes to Runner’s World, ESPN, Austin American-Statesman, FloTrack, MileSplit, Women’s Running and Podium Runner. Yes, she has run a marathon!
