Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul understands and feels Sha'Carri Richardson's pain after the sprinter was handed a suspension for her recent positive drug test.
Richardson failed the drug test for marijuana, which was conducted during the US Olympic Trials for the women's 100-meter event on June 19. She won the contest, but the one-month suspension she was handed will prevent her from competing in said event at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Paul, obviously, was not happy with the ruling and emphasized that “it's not right.” The Suns star highlighted Richardson using marijuana as a coping mechanism after the loss of her mother before pointing out it's not a “performance-enhancing drug.”
“One thing that is always going to be a constant is change. For her, and to see how much work she's put in over these last few years and for me to be an Olympic athlete and to know what that means — it's not right,” Paul said, per Kellan Olson of 98.7 Arizona Sports.
“It's not right for her to work her tail off the way that she has. You can't tell someone how to deal with trauma or how to deal with mental health, whatever it may be. Marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug.”
Chris Paul and the Suns have a lot of things to worry about, especially as they prepare for the NBA Finals this July. However, the veteran playmaker couldn't help but feel frustrated for Sha'Carri Richardson as she was just denied a huge opportunity.
“I'll worry about the Finals when it gets to it but the Olympics is one of those things that comes around once every 4 years and I feel like she deserves her opportunity,” the Suns point guard added.
For what it's worth, several athletes have already expressed their support for Richardson, saying the same arguments made by Paul. Damian Lillard and Patrick Mahomes were among those who first reacted and expressed their disappointment to the news, with the Portland Trail Blazers guard even having a NSFW tirade.
Paul said he would want to have a conversation with Richardson, and we're hoping they can get together to do so,
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