Failed Drug Tests, Missed Drug Tests, and How Easy It Happens

We track and field athletes need better, fairer testing protocols

Sha’Carri Richardson’s failed drug test is at the top of everyone’s mind at the moment. Which is amazing! I have never seen A-list celebrities and politicians support a track athlete the way they are right now… it’s honestly wild.

By now, many know she ingested marijuana at the Olympic Trials as a coping mechanism after finding out about the passing of her biological mother. Marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug, and if it were found in her system during a random test at her home it wouldn’t have been a problem. But since it was found “in competition,” it counts as a failed drug test according to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) rules. A technicality is costing Richardson her Olympic Trials title and placement on the 2021 Olympic team.

As crazy as the situation is, athletes have had their qualms with USADA for quite some time. Every year athletes are banned from competition for missing three tests.

On one hand, I understand the perception when a high-profile track athlete continually “misses” drug tests. It looks like they are intentionally avoiding tests to hide the fact that they are doping. I’m not saying that’s never happened before, but…