The Sha'Carri Richardson Marijuana Situation, Explained

“I know what I did,” she also said, per People. “I know what I'm supposed to do and what I'm allowed not to do, and I still made that decision. But I'm not making an excuse or looking for any empathy in my case. To put on a face, to have to go in front of the world and put on a face and hide my pain, I don't know…. Who am I to tell you how to cope when you're dealing with pain? Or you're dealing with a struggle that you've never experienced before? Or that you never thought you'd have to deal with?”

She added, “I would like to say to my friends, my family, my sponsorship, to the haters too: I apologize. As much as I'm disappointed, I know that when I step on the track I don't represent myself. I represent a community that has shown me great support, great love.”

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The day before the suspension was announced, Sha'Carri Richardson tweeted, “I am human.”

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Nike is standing by the track star.

Along with many celebrities and athletes, the brand is standing by Richardson, who has been a Nike athlete since 2019. “We appreciate Sha'Carri's honesty and accountability and will continue to support her through this time,” the brand said in a statement on Friday, July 3. 

President Joe Biden shared his thoughts.

“The rules are the rules, and everybody knows what the rules were going in,” the President told reporters during a White House press briefing on July 3. “Whether that should remain the rule is a different issue, but the rules are the rules. And I was really proud of her, the way she responded.”

Richardson seemingly responded to her critics.

In a series of tweets on July 3, Richardson looked toward her bright future. “Enjoy the games because we all know it won't be the same,” she tweeted, adding, “I'm sorry I can't be y'all Olympic Champ this year but I promise I'll be your World Champ next year.”