# Sprinter tests positive for performance-dehancing drug

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinter-tests-positive-for-performance-dehancing-drug/945507>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** olympic-sports-track\
**Created:** [July 2, 2021, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinter-tests-positive-for-performance-dehancing-drug/945507 "2021-07-02T13:50:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinter-tests-positive-for-performance-dehancing-drug/945507/82 "2021-07-06T21:43:17Z")

</div>

> [@RickJay](#):
>
> Especially given the fact that Richardson’s use of weed might well have been totally legal.

Was she outside of the US? Because it’s illegal in the entire US still. A lot of people treat it as if only state laws count, but that’s not the case.

ETA: I think the federal law is stupid and should be changed, but I also know it exists.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinter-tests-positive-for-performance-dehancing-drug/945507/83 "2021-07-06T22:17:02Z")

</div>

And she’s out of the Olympics completely being left off the relay team.

> **[Sprinter Richardson left off relay list for Olympics](https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/31772245/shacarri-richardson-run-tokyo-olympics-being-left-us-relay-list)**
>
> Banned sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson was not on the Olympic roster released Tuesday by USA Track and Field, a decision that means the American's positive test for marijuana will cost her a chance at running on the relay team in Tokyo.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![HughGoply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hughgoply/32/7834_2.png) [@HughGoply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HughGoply)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinter-tests-positive-for-performance-dehancing-drug/945507/84 "2021-07-08T02:21:08Z")

</div>

Was she under the influence at the time of race? And does that make a difference?

From NYT:

"The drug is banned on race days, but not outside of competition.“

“In 2013, WADA raised the threshold for a positive test to 150 ng/ml from 15.”

> **[Why Marijuana Can Disqualify a Runner From the Olympics (Published 2021)](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/sports/olympics/marijuana-olympics-shacarri-richardson.html)**
>
> The World Anti-Doping Agency has said that marijuana “can be performance enhancing,” could pose risks to athletes and violates “the spirit of sport.”

Can a person have 150 ng/ml at the time of testing and not be under the influence? Is it possible she took the edible after the race? Could a person have 150 ng/ml and not have used in a week? Or a day? Does a 150 ng/ml mean they consumed THC the day of testing?

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sprinter-tests-positive-for-performance-dehancing-drug/945507.md?page=4)