It’s the end of the week, so let’s see what all we can lash together here. Maybe it’s just a sinking suspicion on my part, but it’s been a rather dumb one as far as I can tell.
Something that grabbed my attention was today’s announcement that track-and-field athlete Sha’Carri Richardson tested positive for marijuana use after posted record-breaking numbers in the 100 meters at the U.S. trials in Oregon. She not only lost her spot on the qualifying team, but she got a thirty-day ban on competition, backdated to the date of the positive result, which runs out a day after the qualifying trials for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are held.
In other words, the first America to have a chance at scoring the gold in that particular race in over 20 years might not be allowed to compete because of a rule that almost everyone agrees is dumb, even the rule-crazy weirdos who’re all “Well, she knew it was banned” and get off on seeing someone fail. And reality continues to make The Onion‘s job that much more difficult.
For her part, Richardson is handling all this fairly well. The race she won was noted by her not stopping after cross the finishing line but running on up into the stands to hug her grandmother. Apparently, she learned of the death of her biological mother and, even worse, heard it first from a reporter, and we all know how sensitive and nurturing sports reporters are. She says she smoked up to help deal with her grief and, for the record, the trials were held in Oregon, where pot’s legal.
Her first response to all this was a tweet that said “I’m human” and later apologized for the whole affair. There’s still a decent chance she could make the U.S. Olympic team; however, she says if it’s not in the cards this time around she’s still got plenty of races left in her. This has started a conversation on the legitimacy of considering marijuana a “performance-enhancing drug” as it gains in legal status and acceptance around the world. Furthermore, a lot of pro athletes have expressed support for Richardson despite the moralizing shown on Twitter.
It’s been a weird day for Black women and the Olympics in general. We’re still dealing with the fallout of shot-putter Gwen Berry turning her back on the National Anthem after qualifying, and by “dealing with” I mean having to listen to vapid dingbat Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) act self-righteous about it while not bothering to even try to understand the reasons why. One would think a U.S. Congressman would have more on his plate than performative patriotism, especially one from Texas, but here we are.
No, what I’m talking about is the International Swimming Federation’s (Fina) announcement that swimming caps designed to protect Black women’s natural hairstyle would not be allowed at the Tokyo Olympics. In fact, caps made by a specific company, Soul Caps, were singled out are being particularly ungood as they did not fit – and I’m quoting here – “the natural form of the head.” Furthermore, since no one else has ever needed them, why are they needed now, and that’s considered a solid argument. Traditional swimming caps were designed with Caucasian hair in mind and any fool can see a Black woman’s hair is much too much for it.
There’s been some pushback from Black swimmers and other athletes and, for their part, Soul Caps has reported a lot of sales and support from this. Unfortunately, it’s doubtful Fina will budge on this issue which some activists say just highlights the empty rhetoric of “inclusion” by the Olympic governing bodies.
Lastly and most insultingly, two of the world’s three fastest runners of the 400 meter have been banned from competition under a 2019 ruling that – and are you ready for this? – sets a limit on the level of testosterone found in their bodies. And wouldn’t you know it, they both happen to be women from Africa. Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi, both of Namibia, are prevented from running in anything from 400 meter to 1,600 meter, though they can run in shorter races.
It should be noted that even the Olympic committee owns that this just covers naturally high testosterone levels but they do say the women would’ve been allowed if they’d just take drugs to reduce those levels. And if you don’t find that funny in a dark, depressing sort of way, I don’t know what to tell you. This rule – and the idea that taking pills to change your body to suit the committee’s needs – is keeping two-time gold medalist from the 2016 Rio Olympics Caster Semenya from even bothering this year. She reported she took the drugs like she was told but had to deal with illness, weight gain, and depression among other things.
While the committee claims this is all to keep things fair, the seven athletes affected by the ban this year are all Black women from African countries, Jamaica, and one from the U.S. There are claims that, like the Soul Cap ban, reveal a bias towards Western Caucasian athletes, but I’m sure that can’t be. Certainly not.
Wrapping it up, Tropical Storm Elsa has upgraded to a Category One hurricane, making it the first named hurricane of the season. It’s projected to hit Florida by the start of next week, though it’s still too early to judge how much of a mess it’s going to be. Them that study such things are saying this season could be as big a booger as last year’s, which saw a record-breaking 30 named storms. Between this and the Pacific Northwest roasting while burning down, we’re all learning an important less about not ignoring big things like, say, climate change until it’s too late to do anything but hunker down and hope for the best.
Have a pleasant weekend.
Dear Y'all 