Sha’Carri Richardson and Michael Phelps are two famous, successful Olympic athletes. They are mainly known for their incredible athletic abilities, but they are also known for conversations surrounding cannabis in sports. In 2021, Richardson tested positive for marijuana and was suspended from competing for one month by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. As a result, she was also unable to compete in the Olympics at the time. Similarly, Phelps was also found to be consuming marijuana when a photograph went around of him inhaling from a marijuana pipe in 2009. He lost a major sponsorship deal and was suspended from competing for three months by USA Swimming. These two incidents sparked conversation surrounding cannabis use and athletes.
Currently, the Olympics follows the regulations dictated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA uses the following criteria to determine if a substance should be prohibited: A) it poses a health risk to athletes; B) it has the potential to enhance performance; and C) it violates the spirit of the sport. They state that cannabis, except for cannabidiol (CBD), follows the last two conditions of the prohibited criteria.
In 2018, WADA removed cannabidiol (CBD) from its list of restricted substances. However, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) remains on the restricted substances list, meaning it is prohibited. Many athletes use CBD to support recovery and strengthen their
overall wellness. They use products such as CBD-infused balms and CBD-infused oils. Further, many athletes use cannabis to promote relaxation and claim it supports their mental wellness and health. Athletes competing in the Olympics should be mindful with the use of CBD of the dosage of THC in the product or avoid products with THC and similar substances altogether. The urinary threshold for THC in substance testing is 150 ng/mL.
Regarding testing for these substances, according to the US Anti-Doping Agency, athletes can be tested any day of the year at any time. Moreover, they can be tested at any location and without advance notice. Depending on the amount used and frequency of usage, a positive test can occur days to weeks after use.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/sports/othersports/06phelps.html
https://risecannabis.com/cannabis-101/cannabis-summer-olympics/
https://ita.sport/tue-paris-2024/
https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list
