More women oppose Sha’Carri Richardson’s marijuana ban than men

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) suspended runner Sha’Carri Richardson after failing a marijuana test. Richardson was supposed to represent the USA at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in the 100-meter run. Despite the outrage of those who voted for Richardson, a recent poll shows that drugs in sport remain a controversial issue with high gender segregation.

The attitudes of politicians and celebrities, whether left or right, were very different from previous years. Many of them have supported Richardson, from the conservative Donald Trump Jr. to the renowned pot smoker Seth Rogen. Those opposed to the ban believe Richardson should compete despite the marijuana found in their system, which makes it clear that marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug.

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Photo by Olena Ruban / Getty Images

While condemnation of the USADA is sharp and widespread in the media, a recent poll shows that the public is far more conservative than one would expect. Women were more likely than men to disapprove of USADA’s stance.

The poll, conducted by YouGov, polled over 300,000 Americans and found that the majority (43%) of the population supported Richardson’s ban. Only 41% are against it.

A breakdown of the results shows that 44% of women oppose Richardson’s suspension, while 48% of men tend to support the punishment.

Americans are deeply divided over whether runner Sha’Carri Richardson should have been suspended after testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana.

Support – 43%
Decline – 41% https: //t.co/guurB6xIam#Tokyo2020pic.twitter.com/93jaqOxVO2

– YouGov America (@YouGovAmerica) July 6, 2021

Age and party affiliation also played a role. More than half (53%) of Democrats oppose the USADA’s decision, while only 37% of them support it. Young people were more open to the issue, with 27% rejecting the sanction. People over 55 were more likely to support Richardson’s ban.

RELATED: Liberals are more likely to smoke marijuana than conservatives

In an age of marijuana revision where the drug is being adopted by various states, it seems numb to cancel the opportunity of an athlete who made headlines days earlier for a positive THC test. It’s an example that shows just how much work marijuana activists still have to do.