The woman behind the Athlos women’s-only track event, Alexis Ohanian, has expressed his appreciation for sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson and discussed similarities between her tale and his own.
The man behind the recent Athlos women’s-only track event, Alexis Ohanian, has expressed his appreciation for Sha’Carri Richardson and how their stories are similar.
After winning the gold medal at the 2023 World Championships, Richardson is currently regarded as one of the best sprinters in the world, but her road to the top wasn’t without difficulties.
She qualified for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning the trials, but she was denied entry after a drug test proved she had used cannabis. She explained after her one-month suspension that she utilized it as a coping mechanism for the pressure of qualifying for the Olympics while grieving her mother’s passing.
Since then, she has recovered to become one of track and field’s biggest stars by winning gold at the Worlds, silver at the Olympics in the 100-meter event, and gold in the 4×1-00-meter relay.
The founder of Reddit then commented on Richards’ doping ban, calling it “unfair” and making comparisons to his own circumstances.
Regarding Richardson’s suspension, Ohanian—the husband of tennis icon Serena Williams—said, “I thought, well, that’s kind of messed up.”
I realize that’s not a performance-enhancing substance. I understand the significance of drug testing. However, you can sort of choose the medicine, and that particular one doesn’t seem to be all that significant.
Ohanian has demonstrated his commitment to female athletics by organizing the highly successful Athlos meet, where the winners received $60,000. Ohanian has been outspoken in his advocacy for female athletes to have recognition and equitable compensation.
Richardson, though, was one of the big names who was left out and will be looking forward to participating in the subsequent edition.