The tides are turning on weed in many of the major sports leagues. The UFC was one of the first to remove cannabis from regular drug testing, and soon others like the NCAA followed suit. However, one large, looming sporting entity has yet to lift the ban. The Olympics, monitored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), remain firmly anti-weed, much to the dismay of USADA CEO Travis Tygart.
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“It’s disappointing,” Tygart told Yahoo Sports. “I think we should all just be open and upfront about marijuana’s lack of performance-enhancing benefits. We’re not in the recreational drug policing business. We’re here to prevent fraud in sport and cheaters in sport.”
Different compounds, different standards
Tygart also spoke out when Sha’Carri Richardson was disqualified from the Tokyo Games due to a positive cannabis test. He called the ousting heartbreaking, which rings especially true since ice skater Kamila Valieva was allowed to compete despite testing positive for a known illegal performance-enhancement drug. Valieva was later stripped of her title and banned from competition for four years.
Another drug-testing hypocrisy from the 2021 games emerged in April 2024. The New York Times reported that over 20 of China’s best swimmers tested positive for a known performance-enhancing drug in 2021.
The WADA and Chinese Anti-Doping Agency ruled that contaminated meat was to blame. The positive tests remained secret until the NYT broke the story earlier this year. Eleven of these swimmers are on the 2024 Chinese Olympic team. This was happening as Richardson faced scrutiny and lost her chance to compete due to cannabis.
Statement from USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart on Chinese Swimmers’ Positive Testshttps://t.co/CZ0LFEZl1W pic.twitter.com/sqnymAK5TW
— USADA (@usantidoping) April 20, 2024
Despite setbacks, Richardson has returned from the disqualification to win a World Title and is currently making waves at the Paris Games. In light of the latest news, Chinese swimmers face added scrutiny from anti-doping regulators and fellow athletes at the pool.
Should athletes be barred from using cannabis?
After headway in U.S. cannabis legality shifted the American tides, Tygart hopes to see the same ripples internationally. Unfortunately, that is slow to happen at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The 2021 Richardson disqualification spurred rigorous debate at the WADA, eventually leading to a USADA-requested scientific review of the plant.
Prohibited substances must meet two out of three criteria:
- Potential to enhance performance
- Actual or potential health risk
- Violates spirit of sport
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Scientists found no viable proof that weed would enhance performance, stamina, or recovery. However, anecdotal evidence of athletes sharing that the plant reduced pain or anxiety was available. Eventually, the WADA ruled that weed met the other two criteria. The agency does allow CBD, but holds athletes liable to know whether the products contain enough THC to test positive.
The experiences of Richardson versus Valieva and the Chinese swimmers are very different. Two were using known performance-enhancing drugs but were allowed to compete. One was honest about consuming a drug known to not enhance performance and was not allowed to run. This highlights the difference in cannabis policy from the U.S. level to international and may indicate there is weed stigma afoot.
