The World Anti-Doping Agency upholds the cannabis ban

A year after it announced it was reconsidering its cannabis ban, the World Anti-Doping Agency will reportedly keep the ban in place.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing “people who have seen a draft of the list,” that the agency “will keep cannabis on its 2023 banned substances list, despite friction over the suspension of American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.” last year.”

Richardson was suspended less than a month before the Tokyo Olympics began last summer after testing positive for marijuana, prompting an international review of what many believe to be an antiquated ban.

Both the World Anti-Doping Agency, the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committees have listed cannabis as a prohibited substance.

US government bodies say cannabis is banned because it could pose a potential health and safety risk for athletes and that cannabis may be a performance-enhancing substance for some.

Outrage over Richardson’s suspension prompted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to reconsider policy. Last September, the agency said it would act on a recommendation from its Prohibited Listing Expert Group and launch “a scientific review of the status of cannabis.”

A year later, it looks like the status quo will prevail.

The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that “the deadline for the completion of the 2023 WADA Prohibited List is approaching, but there are strong indications that cannabis will remain prohibited,” with the Prohibited List Expert Advisory Group in favor of “a ban.” , and declares that, based on the available scientific evidence, the drug meets the criteria for inclusion on the list.”

According to the Journal, the advisory group “has circulated a draft list for 2023 that still includes cannabis” and that WADA “typically follows the advice”. However, the Journal noted that the agency “stressed that the list is still preliminary until the end of this month.”

“The draft 2023 ban list is still under review,” a WADA spokesman said in a statement, quoted by the Wall Street Journal. “WADA’s Executive Committee is asked to approve the final version of the list during its September 23 meeting, with the list itself being published on or before October 1 and effective January 1.”

Richardson’s positive marijuana test came shortly after she won the 100-meter dash at the US Olympic Trials. Richardson, now 22, took responsibility for her actions after the test broke.

“I want to take responsibility for my actions,” Richardson said in an interview on the Today Show at the time. “I know what I’ve done and what I shouldn’t do. I know what I’m not allowed to do, and I made my decision anyway. In my case, not finding an apology or looking for empathy, but being in that position in my life and figuring something out—something that I would say has impacted my life both positively and negatively […] when it comes to dealing with the relationship with my mother – that was definitely a difficult subject for me.”

But others were less forgiving of the decision, as Richardson drew a wave of support from other athletes, lawmakers and even the White House.

“It stinks,” then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in an interview at the time. “I don’t think there’s a better definition for it. She lost her mother; she’s been through tragedy and is also the fastest woman alive – and I think she’s sending a message to a lot of little girls out there; you can do this. We know the rules are where they are; maybe we should look at them again. We definitely have to respect the role of the US Anti-Doping Agency and the US Olympic Committee and the decisions they make. But it’s sad.”