US sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who had recently tested
positive for marijuana, will not be a part of the Tokyo Olympics after being left out of
the United States’ 4x100m relay squad, USA Track and Field (USATF) confirmed on
Tuesday.

Richardson had been ruled out of competing in the individual
100m in Tokyo after receiving a 30-day ban for testing positive for marijuana
following her victory at the US trials last month. She could still have
competed as a member of the relay team with her suspension ending before the
opening rounds of the discipline get underway in Tokyo.

According to the USTAF rules, the 21-year-old could have been
selected as one of two coach’s picks alongside the top four finishers from the
women’s 100m final at the US trials. But USATF opted against it on Tuesday as
2016 Olympic 4x100m relay gold medallist English Gardner and Aleia Hobbs were
named as the two discretionary picks to complete the six-strong relay pool.

USATF expressed sympathy for Richardson’s case but said it
had a responsibility to “maintain fairness” for all athletes, AFP
reported.

“First and foremost, we are incredibly sympathetic
toward Sha’Carri Richardson’s extenuating circumstances and strongly applaud
her accountability – and will offer her our continued support both on and off
the track,” USATF statement said.

“While USATF fully agrees that the merit of the World
Anti-Doping Agency rules related to THC (marijuana) should be re-evaluated, it
would be detrimental to the integrity of the US Olympic Team Trials for Track
& Field if USATF amended its policies following the competition, only weeks
before the Olympic Games,” the statement added.

Newspaper USA Today reported Gardner and Hobbs were told of
their selection in the US team before Richardson accepted a reduced one-month
suspension for her doping case.

That meant that adding Richardson to the squad with one of
the discretionary places would have required either Gardner or Hobbs to be
bumped from the team.