Interesting article. And clearly implies that Nike as a company is quite happy to support doping.
It’s an interesting line to take as a company if true.
Yeah it may point to the fact that doping violations in athletics are that frequent that there is little to no shock value attached to it any more and they have made an assessment that they are more than prepared to ride the highs with the best athletes regardless of the potential fallout.
You go and look at the major players in just about all track and field events and the percentage of them who have either tested positive, avoided testing on numerous occasions or they are linked to scientists/coaches who have been done is very, very high.
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Let’s cross live for some commentary
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What the hell is up with the 2 inch fingernails?
Why? 
Interesting!
The wording of that tweet is pretty dodgy. It made it look fake 
But yeah, it appears there is something going on. This is the best lead I could find:
REPORT: Sha’Carri Richardson Tests Positive for Cannabis at Olympic Trials, In Danger of Missing Olympics
By LetsRun.com
July 1, 2021
US 100-meter champion Sha’Carri Richardson tested positive for cannabis at last month’s US Olympic Trials and may miss the Olympics, according to the Jamaica Gleaner . (LetsRun.com has not confirmed the story, but independently heard from a source today that Richardson had tested positive for marijuana). Richardson, 21, one of the biggest stars of the Trials in Eugene, owns a personal best of 10.72 in the 100 meters, the #2 time in the world this year, and, along with two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and world 200m champion Dina Asher-Smith , was among the medal favorites in what projects as one of the most exciting events of the Games.
Richardson has not issued a statement yet but this morning tweeted this out:
I am human
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) July 1, 2021
She also withdrew from Sunday’s Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, where she was scheduled to run the 200 meters.
Sha’Carri Richardson at the Olympic Trials (Tim Healy for TrackTown USA_
Cannabinoids such as marijuana and THC are prohibited in-competition and are classified as Specified Substances by the WADA Code. The ban for testing positive for a Specified Substance in-competition is four years if the anti-doping organization can show the use was intentional; if not, or if the athlete can show the substance was used out-of-competition, the ban is two years. In addition, because THC is classified by WADA as a Substance of Abuse by WADA, the ban can be reduced further: to three months if the athlete “can establish that any ingestion or use occurred out-of-competition and was unrelated to sport performance” and one month if the athlete “satisfactorily completes a Substance of Abuse treatment program approved by the anti-doping organization with results management responsibility.”
Another American sprinter, 2018 US 400-meter champion Kahmari Montgomery , tested positive for THC at the Miramar Invitational on April 10 and served a one-month ban from April 30 – May 29 after completing the treatment program.
Even if Richardson is handed the minimum ban, she would still miss the Olympics in the individual 100 meters as her result at the US Olympic Trials would be disqualified. Because USA Track & Field picks its Olympic team in the 100m based on the results of the Trials, Richardson would be replaced on the 100m team by Jenna Prandini , the fourth-placer in the Olympic Trials 100 meters. The women’s 100m final at the Trials was held on June 19; the first round of the women’s 100m at the Olympics is on July 30.
If Richardson serves the minimum one-month ban, there is still a chance she could be named to the 4×100 relay team for the Olympics (more details below).
LetsRun.com has reached out to USADA for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Richardson Wins the Trials (Tim Healy for TrackTown USA)
Quick Take: This is ridiculous
Sha’Carri Richardson should not miss the Olympics for a drug that is not performance-enhancing and is legal in the state where she tested positive for it. Drug testing is at a crossroads and seems to be catching a lot of people on technicalities, on missed tests, but not actual doping. Banning the sprint phenom and hugely popular social media star for having weed in her system is pointless and only hurts the anti-doping effort.
USATF presumably will not name Richardson to the individual sprint team because her individual result from the Trials will be invalidated and they could be sued for not following their rules, but what if all the women behind her who would be in line to replace her declined their spots?
Quick Take: It is possible Richardson could still be named to the 4×100 relay team
While Richardson would not be able to contest the individual 100 meters since her Trials results would be invalidated and she did not finish in the top 3, there is a possibility that she could still be named to the US team in the 4x100m relay. USATF is allowed to enter six athletes in the relay pool; four must be the three athletes running the individual 100 meters and the alternate (which would be the top four placers at the Olympic Trials, minus Richardson).
As for the remaining two places, USATF’s selection procedures state that “selection of the two (2) additional athletes will be made by the USATF Head Relay Coach, in consultation and cooperation with the respective 2020 Olympic Games Head Coach or his/her designee, USATF’s Chief of Sport Performance, USATF High Performance Division Chair and one non-competing athlete selected by USATF’s Athletes Advisory Committee who has World Championship and/or Olympic experience in the 4x100m or 4x400m relays.”
That means that USATF has the power to name Richardson to the team if she is eligible to compete by the start of the relay (which begins on August 5). LetsRun has learned that Richardson’s provisional suspension began on June 28; if she is able to complete the treatment program and serve the minimum one-month ban, she would be eligible to compete in the relay.
Yep looks like she’s copping a 30 day suspension for smoking weed. Will miss the individual 100m event but should be available to run the relay. What a mess.
you mean their continued sponsorship of Lance Armstrong wasn’t a give away?
edit
thought they were still sponsoring his marathons but google suggests otherwise.
will be back with confirmation
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What a twat. Trained for 5 years and thought she’d smoke a bowl close to the Olympics.
Once I saw the fingernails, I didn’t really need to see anything else.
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Is pot performance enhancing? Isn’t it legal to take it in most of the US now?
Indeed. As the article said.
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How about “once I saw 10.72”…what difference do her nails make?
It’s pretty harsh I reckon. Any other country she’d cop the 30 days and the country association would send her anyway.
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Slopestyle is my favourite with Halfpipe a close second. Jumps, rails, it’s got the lot. I’d love them to have a big air competition too. Basically I want the Winter Olympics to be the X games.
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yep
it’s a supremely dumb rule
but, it’s not an unknown rule
Basketball participants finalised
The Czechs knocked of Greece and Italy knocked off Seebia to qualify.
Slovenia defeated Brazil to also make it through.
The 12-team field is set for men’s basketball at the Tokyo Olympic Games after the final spots were secured in qualifying tournaments on Sunday.
Opening ceremonies for the Tokyo Olympics will be held on Friday, July 23. Men’s basketball will tip off Sunday, July 25 and run through Saturday, August 7.
Here is a look at who will be competing:
Group A
United States
This U.S. roster will be led by Kevin Durant, who will be looking to win his third gold medal. Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, Zach LaVine, Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green, Jerami Grant, Bradley Beal and Kevin Love make up the rest of the roster.
The United States is looking for its fourth straight gold medal after defeating Serbia in the 2016 Olympic final in Rio.
France
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert leads the French team, which will make its third straight appearance in the Olympics. The Utah Jazz big man will be joined by LA Clippers forward Nicolas Batum, Boston Celtics forward Evan Fournier, Brooklyn Nets guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and New York Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina. The French will be considered medal contenders, as they earned bronze at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Czech Republic
Czech Republic qualified for its first Olympic Games ever after a win over Greece in the FIBA qualifying tournament in Canada. The team reached the finals after a semifinal thriller that will go down in Czech basketball history when Chicago Bulls guard Tomas Satoransky banked home a game-winner in overtime to send host Canada home and advance to the finals.
Satoransky led Czech Republic in the finals victory, and will look to take on a leading role in Tokyo as well.
Iran
Iran will compete in men’s basketball at the Olympics for the third time in its history after earning its spot as the highest-ranked Asian team at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The Iranians last reached the Olympic Games in 2008, and also competed in 1948.
Group B
Australia
The Australians will make their 13th consecutive appearance in the Olympic men’s basketball field, a streak dating back to 1968. San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills joins Utah Jazz sharpshooter Joe Ingles, Toronto Raptors center Aron Baynes, Cleveland Cavaliers guards Dante Exum and Matthew Dellavedova, and Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green on the roster.
Mills will be competing in his fourth consecutive Olympics. The Australians reached the semifinals in Rio in 2016.
Nigeria
Golden State Warriors assistant Mike Brown leads the Nigerian national team, which will make its third straight appearance in the Olympics. Nigeria qualified as the highest-ranked African team at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Nigeria will have a bevy of NBA players to choose from, as players like Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie, Miami Heat forward Precious Achiuwa and Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris were invited to training camp. According to the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), the final roster will be announced on July 17.
Italy
With a win over Serbia in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament finals, Italy secured its first Olympic berth since 2004, when the team captured a silver medal at the Athens Games.
Golden State Warriors guard Nico Mannion led Italy in its final qualifying victory and will try to lead the squad in Tokyo as well. Dallas Mavericks center Nicolo Melli also brings NBA experience to the Italian roster.
Germany
Germany is back in the Olympic field for the first time since 2008 after winning the FIBA qualifying tournament in Croatia. Orlando Magic forward Moritz Wagner scored 28 points in the final to lead the Germans past Brazil.
Washington Wizards forward Isaac Bonga also plays for the German squad as it chases its first ever Olympic medal in men’s basketball.
Group C
Argentina
Argentina returns to the Olympic stage this summer under head coach Sergio Hernandez, who coached the team at the 2008 and 2016 Olympics. The squad is led by a trio of NBA players: Denver Nuggets guard Facundo Campazzo, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Gabriel Deck and guard Luca Vildoza, who signed with the New York Knicks in May.
Argentina eyes its first Olympic podium finish since 2008, when it secured a bronze medal four years after capturing gold at the Athens Games in 2004. The team is currently ranked No. 4 in the FIBA World Ranking.
Japan
Japan will make its first Olympic appearance since 1976 after qualifying as the host of this summer’s Games. Toronto Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe and Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura bring NBA talent to the roster and will try to lead Japan out of a tough Group C.
Spain
After finishing with a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Games and silvers in 2012 and 2008, Spain looks to be a medal contender once again this summer in Tokyo. The Spanish roster boasts both experience and NBA talent, with Pau and Marc Gasol, Willy and Juancho Hernangomez and Ricky Rubio leading the squad.
Spain won the 2019 FIBA World Cup and is currently ranked No. 2 in the FIBA World Rankings, behind only the United States.
Slovenia
Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic led Slovenia to its first-ever Olympic Games after knocking off Lithuania, 96-85, in the finals of a FIBA Olympic qualifying tournament in Lithuania.
Doncic came up with a 31-point triple-double to carry the Slovenians to Tokyo. He will be one of the biggest names in the Olympic field, and could make Slovenia a tough out in this group.
It will be absolutely foreign to watch the Men’s basketball at the Olympics and not have ANY of Serbia, Croatia or Lithuania there.
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Brazil too
Anyone watching this flag barer announcement?
This reading the oath is cringe
Flag bearer Patty Mills
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