A representative from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) passed fault for U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s disqualification from the Tokyo Olympics due to a positive cannabis screening to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), stating that the national sports agency is “heartbroken” over the suspension and backs “liberalization” of existing prohibitions, but that its power is limited when it comes to enforcing global substance policies.

Edwin Moses, a two-time Olympic track and field gold medalist and the emeritus head of USADA, testified before a legislative panel on international sports, and was grilled over the contentious disqualification by committee co-chair Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN).

Cohen, who had before criticized Richardson’s suspension and called for federal steps to stop cannabis prohibition at a different congressional meeting, called the issue “a shame,” particularly since the runner confessed to consuming cannabis in a legal region after hearing of their mother’s death, adding that cannabis is “not a performance enhancing drug unless you’re involved in the hot dog eating contest on the Fourth of July at Coney Island.”

Moses replied that the World Anti-Doping Agency is a global agency made up of “650 organizations,” and “neither the United States Olympic Committee nor USADA nor the [USA Track & Field] have anything to do with making up the rules.”

However, in a communication to Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) earlier this month, WADA stated that the United States played a key role in enforcing the cannabis restriction. Richard Pound, WADA’s first president, echoed kindred remarks, noting that the U.S. effectively coerced the rest of the world into adding cannabis to the prohibited substances registry.

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