Sha’Carri Richardson criticizes USADA’s new drug-testing program

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has adopted a new whereabouts program ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, and world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson is not happy about the change. USADA now requires all athletes to move to the new filing program and update their whereabouts by Dec. 15, 2023 for Olympic declaration purposes. Richardson is not a fan, voicing her opinion on her Instagram story, saying the decision was not made in the best interest of athletes.

🌶️ Sha’carri Richardson speaks out about the new whereabouts changes, the lack of communication/explanation from the organizations about it prior to Paris 2024 and how they don’t have the athlete’s best interest. pic.twitter.com/HBHjz4Rf2C

— Track Spice 🌶️ (@trackspice) December 13, 2023

Richardson criticized the timing of these changes, considering the crucial timing of the Olympic year as athletes begin to prepare. “I just feel like (this update) was not made in the best interest of the athlete, going as it is into the Olympic year, very, very crucial, so nothing unnecessary should be added on top of our plates,” said Richardson.

She went on to talk about the lack of explanation behind these sudden changes in USADA’s whereabouts program, calling for a more “athlete-centric approach.”

Sha’Carri Richardson storms to redemption in 100m record time

World Athletics and USADA anti-doping rules state that athletes must keep testers up to date regarding their whereabouts on a daily basis. This way, they can easily be located for out-of-competition drug tests. If an athlete doesn’t update their whereabouts information on time, they receive a “filing failure.” They can also register filing failures when forms have been filled out inaccurately. And if an athlete misses a test because they aren’t where they said they would be, they are served with a whereabouts failure. Athletes who receive three whereabouts failures in 12 months are provisionally suspended.

USADA sent out an announcement about the change several weeks before the Dec. 15 deadline. According to another U.S. athlete, USADA provided detailed instructions on how to transfer to the new system, including a step-by-step illustrated guide.

In her three-year professional career, Richardson has been vocal about various issues; in 2021, she missed the Tokyo Olympics after a positive marijuana test at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials. Richardson said her marijuana use was to help her cope with the death of her biological mother. She received a one-month ban, making her ineligible to compete for the U.S. Olympic team.

Later that year, USADA pushed the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to alter its code involving cannabis, allowing for a reduced sanction if the athlete’s use occurred out of competition and unrelated to sports performance.

Two weeks ago at the 2023 USATF Awards, Richardson stirred controversy after urging members of the public not to donate to the Team USA Fund, since she claimed athletes do not receive the money.