AOC Blasts Olympics Banned Substance Policy As ‘Racist,’ Demands Suspended Athlete Be Reinstated
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez criticized the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for suspending an Olympic athlete for testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana…

Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez criticized the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for suspending an Olympic athlete for testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana, calling the policy “colonial and racist.”
“The criminalization and banning of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial policy,” the New York Democrat tweeted.
“The IOC should reconsider its suspension of Ms. Richardson and any athletes penalized for cannabis use.”
The USADA announced Friday that sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson had accepted a one-month suspension for testing positive for cannabis during the U.S. Olympic trials.
Richardson won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.86 seconds, making her a gold medal contender, according to ESPN.
“The rules are clear, but this is heartbreaking on many levels,” USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement.
“Hopefully, her acceptance of responsibility and apology will be an important example to us all that we can successfully overcome our regrettable decisions, despite the costly consequences of this one to her.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ocasio-Cortez and the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties formally asked the USADA to end Richardson’s suspension so she can run in the Olympics


