The World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has decided to review whether cannabis should remain
banned in athletics. The agency’s move comes after United States athlete Sha’Carri
Richardson missed the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for cannabis
consumption in the month of June. The 21-year-old sprinter revealed that she
had used cannabis to help cope with the death of her biological mother.

Also Read | US sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson left out of Olympic squad over marijuana use

The agency said
that a scientific review of cannabis consumption will begin next year and
cannabis will remain prohibited till 2022, according to the BBC. The World
Anti-Doping Agency said that the review is taking place “following receipt of
requests from a number of stakeholders”.

Also Read | Explained: Why marijuana got US sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson banned

Sha ‘Carri
Richardson won the 100 meters sprint at the US Olympic trials in Oregon in June.
Her sprint was the sixth-fastest time in history in the semi-finals. However,
the qualification times were expunged after Richardson tested positive for
cannabis consumption.

Also Read | Who is American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson?

The US Olympic
trials took place a week after the death of Sha’Carri Richardson’s biological mother
and the athlete said that she consumed marijuana in order to deal with the
emotional impact. While the US anti-doping body was sympathetic to her ordeal,
the rules did not allow her to compete in the Tokyo Games.

As the rules
currently stand, testing positive for cannabis carries up to a four-year ban
for athletes. However, the punishment can be reduced to three months if the
athletes can prove that they did not take marijuana for performance
enhancement. Further, the ban can be reduced to one month if the athletes agree
to partake in a treatment programme.

After Richardson
tested positive for cannabis, she was hit with the 30-day suspension. The
anti-doping agency’s decision triggered outrage among fans of the athlete and
others who wondered why marijuana remains banned even after some states in the
US have legalised it in some degree.