White House Pushing For Rule Review On Cannabis Use In Sport

The White House is pursuing a meeting with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in order to discuss loosening the restrictions on the use of cannabis in sport, motivated by star track sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson‘s exclusion from the U.S. Olympic team after testing positive for marijuana.

Richardson won the women’s 100m event at the Olympic Trials, but her positive test resulted in a one-month suspension, eliminating her trials victory. Last Tuesday, USA Track & Field (USATF) declined to select her to the Tokyo Olympic Games for the 4x100m relay.

Tate Jackson, a U.S. National Team swimmer, also received a one-month ban earlier this year after testing positive for THC, a metabolite of the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Despite the suspension ending in late April, Jackson did not compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials last month.

The White House is seeking the meeting through the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), which has a seat on the foundation board of WADA. The board’s next scheduled meeting is November 25, but according to The Financial Times, the ONDCP is hoping to secure an “earlier discussion within WADA.”

“We know the rules are where they are, maybe we should take another look at them,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki (a former collegiate swimmer) said in a CNN interview.

“We certainly have to respect the role of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the U.S. Olympic Committee and the decisions they make,” said Psaki. “But it is sad, and we do wish her luck and look forward to seeing her running, running as the fastest woman in the world, and for years to come.”

The office reportedly intends to ask WADA about the policies for cannabis use, including the timeframe for testing and the basis for consideration of cannabis as a performance-enhancing drug.

Marijuana laws have softened significantly in the U.S. recently, with 19 states having fully legalized recreational use as of last month, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.

However, WADA remains the global arbiter, reminded U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart.

“While the U.S. government has a seat at the table to provide feedback, and will continue to speak up for athletes, we are ultimately bound to the WADA rules,” he said in a statement.

The White House has threatened to pull funding from WADA in the past, questioning whether or not their investment was worthwhile and demanding serious reform in June 2020.

With the U.S. being the largest single contributor to WADA’s budget (expected to provide more than $2.9 million in 2021, per the agency’s website), it begs the question whether or not the government could again threaten to pull funding if WADA doesn’t abide to their requests.

The agency does an annual review of its banned and restricted substances list, which seeks input from all stakeholders, which is slated to begin in August and conclude in the fall.

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ButterPeanut
3 years ago

I am still baffled by how short cited this entire process has been. Who really thinks it’s a good idea for someone doing the Skelton at the winter Olympics, or cycling up a mountain in the summer Olympics with weed in their system is a good idea? This isn’t just limited to running lol. This is just asking for a disaster in some of the more dangerous events.

Admin
Reply to  ButterPeanut
3 years ago

FWIW, they can (and do) ban specific substances for only specific sports.

That being said, I fully agree that in many sports this is a safety issue as much as it is a health/performance issue. I wonder if they could develop a new testing technique to test if someone has enough THC in their system to be impaired without being as concerned about whether they smoked 6 days ago.

Afterall, they’ve already said marijuana is legal out of competition, so they’ve already accepted that some of the proposed hurdles to changes to the rule aren’t really that important.

Casas 100 back gold in Fukuoka
3 years ago

US Gov can influence what is on the banned list and what is not? Sounds very legit.

DLswim
Reply to  Casas 100 back gold in Fukuoka
3 years ago

Yes, and in the past the US Gov has pressured WADA to keep THC in the list of banned substances.

torchbearer
3 years ago

Just a minor point- I think marijuana is performance enhancing in a couple of sports, like archery and shooting, when you need a calm, steady hand….

Mark
Reply to  torchbearer
3 years ago

It is arguably performance enhancing in every sport. I’m not talking specifically physically but mainly psychologically. Weed can easily change psychological behavior and with the right people, it can easily improve a lot more of the “in the game” mentality of athletes. If anyone here has ever smoked weed and went to practice, or went to the gym or done anything physical (like a hike, play outside games with friends), then you know how much more you are into whatever you’re doing. I myself enjoy being high while in the water because it’s so much more fun, feels so different and I’m more into it. No doubt other people feel the same because it’s something me and my teammates always… Read more »

Taa
3 years ago

From here on out there will be a smoking section at all local swim meets per the White House directive

DLswim
Reply to  Taa
3 years ago

Don’t be ridiculous.

Ol' Longhorn
3 years ago
WestCoastRefugee
3 years ago

This is grandstanding by the WH pure and simple. It doesn’t matter what we say, it matters what WADA says. Until Cannabis is legal internationally it is not coming off the list. Remember, pain management falls under performance enhancement as well. You can’t allow a drug that is shown to dramatically alleviate pain and anxiety that is for the most part banned in a significant majority of the world (including many parts of the US).

IM FAN
3 years ago

This seems to just be a PR move. Unfortunately there are plenty of other countries that are quite happy with the current policy that have enough influence to keep the status quo.

This administration has also done nothing to overhaul current U.S federal law regarding cannibis. Though this is an encouraging signal on that front the lack of prioritization of, if there even is any interest in overhauling federal regulation of cannibis from this administration makes me suspect a more cynical motive here.

Last edited 3 years ago by IM FAN
DJTrockstoYMCA
3 years ago

Wonder if the “White House” would be involved if it were a non-minority involved in a cannabis suspension?

HJones
Reply to  DJTrockstoYMCA
3 years ago

For someone of Richardson’s caliber, the White House probably would. But, there certainly have been a decent number of politicians who have turned this into a race issue (looking at you, AOC) which is absolutely ridiculous.

Tomek
Reply to  DJTrockstoYMCA
3 years ago

My guess would be no

Vanilla Gorilla
Reply to  DJTrockstoYMCA
3 years ago

Yes I think they would. This is a medal contender in argueably the most visible and popular event in the games.

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  DJTrockstoYMCA
3 years ago

Yeah, all those oppressed white people. Great thread. Upthread somebody insisted, “the last thing we need is politicians trying to rewrite the rules.” Yet that is exactly what is going on in one state legislature after another, intentionally designed to make it more difficult for minorities to vote.

WestCoastRefugee
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

Maybe try to get your info from somewhere other than the MSM.

Chris
Reply to  WestCoastRefugee
3 years ago

You’re ridiculous. Where do you get your info from?

eagleswim
Reply to  Chris
3 years ago

my uncle on facebook. say what you will about his “research methods,” but at least he’s not being paid by big pharma. He told me his friend got mumps from the covid vaccine, how you gonna argue with that?

Corn Pop
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

Anti voters exist .

HJones
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

Making it more difficult fo minorities to vote, or trying to increase election integrity after BOTH sides (the left in 2016, the right in 2020) have whined about election interference in the past two cycles?? Have you actually read the “voting restriction” bills, or do you just hear what others will tell you?

Admin
Reply to  HJones
3 years ago

Keep it on topic, please.

Irish Ringer
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

That voter ID is elusive for sure.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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