The British President of the International Athletics Federation (World Athletics), Sebastian Coe, said he was in favor of changing the status of cannabis on the list of prohibited substances after the suspension of American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, who deprived her of the Olympics.
Asked about the possibility of reviewing the status of cannabis on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances, Sebastian Coe replied that “it should be. It’s reasonable. Nothing is set in stone. From time to time, we adapt and reassess ”.
Sebastian Coe took the opportunity to express his sympathy for Sha’Carri Richardson, feeling sorry for having “lost an exceptional talent”.
Double Olympic champion of the 1500, the president of World Athletics admitted that the current anti-doping rules were applied correctly in his case.
“I don’t want to sound like Joe Biden,” Coe said, referring to the President’s sympathetic yet realistic comments on Richardson, “but the rules are the rules and that’s how they’ve been interpreted. “
After the London Olympics in 2012, the threshold for what constitutes a positive cannabis test was relaxed in an effort to ensure that only use in competition is detected. WADA’s rule, which turns out not to change due to lack of American support, can be changed again.
“I think it’s an opportune moment to review this status,” said Sebastien Coe. “IAU [(Athletics Integrity Uni)t] will examine the matter in the light of the current circumstances ”.
WADA updates the prohibited list every year. A change could come for the 2022 season, an opportune moment for the United States. The 2022 World Athletics Championships will be the first to be held in the United States. And Richardson will be among the favorites.
