Biden says 'rules are rules' after runner Sha'Carri Richardson banned from Olympic race for smoking weed
JOE Biden has seemingly backed the Olympics decision to ban Sha’Carri Richardson from competing in the 100m race by saying “rules are rules”.
Richardson, 21, was suspended from competing for one month by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) after she tested positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana.
The one-month ban means she will not be able to compete in the 100m race at the Tokyo Games but she could still take part in the women’s relay race because that will not take place until after July 27.
The President was asked for his comments during a visit to Traverse City, Michigan, as part of a July 4 weekend visit to mark the US's progress in the fight against Covid-19.
Joe Biden told reporters: “Rules are rules.”
Richardson, America’s fastest woman, previously said in a tweet “I am human” and said in an interview on the Today show Friday she was “triggered” by the death of her mom.
"I was definitely triggered and blinded by emotions, blinded by badness, and hurting, and hiding hurt," she said.
"I know I can’t hide myself, so in some type of way, I was trying to hide my pain."
In an 'emotional panic' she said she took marijuana which resulted in her failed drugs test.
“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."
After the June trials in Oregon, Richardson revealed that her mother had died the previous week.
She told ESPN at the time: "My family has kept me grounded.
"This year has been crazy for me. Going from just last week, losing my biological mother, and I'm still here.
"Last week, finding out my biological mother passed away and still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here, still here to make the family that I do still have on this earth proud.
"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."
Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted the decision to ban Richardson, calling it “racist and colonial”.
"The criminalization and banning of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial policy," Ocasio-Cortez said Friday. "The IOC [International Olympic Committee] should reconsider its suspension of Ms. Richardson and any athletes penalized for cannabis use."
Richardson ran 100 metres in 10.86 seconds in Oregon last month.
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.
Richardson, who had been described as the “best American hope” in the track and field events, is estimated to have a net worth around $100,000, according to Exact Net Worth and Biography Daily
But Spotsjone and Celebsagewiki claim that the track and field star's net worth to be anywhere between $1M and $5M.
The average salary of a sprinter in the US is between $45,000 and $50,000 annually plus, Richardson signed a deal with Nike.
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