Politics

‘It does stink’: Psaki criticizes sidelining of Sha’Carri Richardson from entire Tokyo Olympics

When asked of her opinion on Olympic Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s sidelining from the Olympics, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “It does stink.”

Continuing Psaki says “she is someone who, as an Olympic obsessed person myself, and I know the president watches closely, who is inspiring, she lost her mother, she had gone through tragedy, and she’s also the fastest woman in the world, and I think she’s sending a message to a lot of little girls out there, ‘you can do this.’”

When asked of his opinion on the matter, President Biden said, “Whether they should remain the rules is a different issue, but the rules are the rules … but I was really proud of the way she responded.”

Richardson has accepted her suspension and previously apologized to supporters. “I want to take responsibility for my actions. I’m not looking for an excuse.” Richardson was disqualified from all of her Olympic events and placed on a suspension due to a failed drug test. The US Anti-Doping Agency’s ruling lists marijuana as a potentially performance enhancing substance.

Lawmakers and commentators have spoken out against her disqualification. Last week, Representative AOC sent a letter to the USADA, writing, “The ban on marijuana is a significant and unnecessary burden on athletes’ civil liberties.” The Tokyo Games will be held in Japan later this month, most likely without spectators due to recent COVID-19 restrictions placed in the country. 

ARTICLE: ANTOINETTE AHO

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE
PHOTO CREDITS: NBC NEWS

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Antoinette is a community college student in Sacramento, California. She is a Politics Editor at Fact Based America, a correspondent for Campus Reform, and a student journalist. She previously worked for Turning Point USA as a High School Coordinator.

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