On Tuesday, U.S.A. Track & Field (USATF) released a statement confirming track and field sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson's suspension from the team after Richardson tested positive for THC, a chemical compound found in marijuana, last month; the failed drug test initially placed her on a month-long suspension as of June 28. Richardson's 10.86-second time in the women's 100-meter race last month at the Olympic trials in Oregon broke records. On the NBC Show Friday, Richardson said she used marijuana to cope after the news of her mother's death. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called the rules "racist" and called for the Olympics to "reconsider"; White House spokesperson Jen Psaki also suggested the rules should be revisited, while President Joe Biden said he supported Richardson's suspension, saying, "the rules are the rules." 

Those who opposed Richardson's suspension expressed sympathy for her and criticized the Olympic's rules. Some on the left said systemic racism was to blame, pointing to the fact that the rules are based on a study by the U.S. government; others on the left used the incident to push for widespread marijuana legalization. Some voices from the right criticized others for politicizing Richardson's suspension.