Sha'carri Richardson made headlines for her 100-meter dash time.
Even more so after she was barred from competing at the Olympics for a drug test revealing the use of marijuana.
But the decision to stop her from competing and the rules themselves has come under fire in recent days.
Amy Bass, professor of sport studies and chair of the division of social science and communication at Manhattanville College in New York, discussed the larger implications of the decision with KCBS Radio's Margie Shafer Monday morning.
"A lot of people were surprised by the idea of marijuana, not exactly an 'upper' being associated with performance enhancement and being banned for someone who runs the 100 metres," said Bass.
People were also outraged because "this is supposed to be the next star," said Bass. "This is Sha'carri Richardson, who is flamboyant and talented and wears her emotions on her sleeve."
Track and field is popular once every four years for the majority of Olympic fans, Bass added. Richardson was someone who was putting the sport in the spotlight.
Despite living in Oregon where marijuana is legal and where Richardson consumed it, the athlete is under the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which is the arbiter of everything related to drugs and performance enhancement for the Olympic Games.
"The local law doesn’t really work here," said Bass. "It’s ironic though."
It’s difficult to tell if the agency might reverse its decision, Bass said. Not all sports are held to the same performance standards. Archery, for instance, could benefit from marijuna consumption, Bass explained, by helping lower the archer’s blood pressure and enhancing focus.
"It’s a blanket statement that doesn’t really work for all sports," she said.
The more pertinent issue, she said, is what other elements offer athletes an unfair advantage over others, such as training regiments, equipment, access to sports nutritionists.
And knowing that Richardson consumed marijuana as a coping method also makes an important point about the mental health of athletes, said Bass.
"We need to take care of our athletes," said Bass. "If athletes are using their platform to talk about things like mental health and wellness, we need to take that opportunity to listen to them."
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