Rising U.S. Track Star Sha’Carri Richardson Tests Positive for Marijuana, Could Miss Tokyo Olympics

American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who was set to be a breakout star at the Olympic Games later this month, has tested positive for marijuana, putting her participation in the Tokyo games in doubt. The 21-year-old, sporting bright orange hair and an electric personality, roared to victory in the women’s 100-meter sprint at the U.S. Olympic trials, making her a fan favorite as well as a favorite to win gold. The positive test taken at the trials last month means Richardson will likely face a competition ban of some length; the sanction for a positive test for marijuana can range from a maximum penalty of a two-year ban down to a minimum of one month depending on the nature of the infraction.

THC, the main psychoactive substance in marijuana, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency during in-competition periods, a timeframe that technically begins at 11:59 p.m. the day before the competition starts. Under world anti-doping rules, athletes are allowed to have up to 150 nanograms per milliliter of THC without causing a positive test.The U.S. anti-doping and Olympic bodies are signatories to the WADA rules, meaning they follow and enforce their laws. Penalties are lowered in instances where the drug violation is not considered performance enhancing, which will likely be argued in Richardson’s case.