By: Elizabeth Bulat

Edited By: Rayyana Hassan and Kirsten Huh

Before the 2021 Olympics, 20 athletes failed to meet anti-doping guidelines and had to forfeit their eligibility to compete in the summer games. [1] The issue of doping in sport has been managed by the Athletes Integrity Unit to ensure that athletes don’t have an unfair advantage while competing. Their guidelines follow the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA) that adheres to specific procedures, testing, and education resources to maintain a standard for athletes around the world. [2]

WADA outlines criteria for all substances to meet on the Prohibited List to ensure clarity. According to the WADA Code, a substance is added to the Prohibited List if it fits within at least two of the following: (1) poses a health risk to an athlete, (2) has the potential to enhance an athlete’s performance, or (3) violates the spirit of the game.

The WADA Prohibited List includes cannabinoid forms CBT, CBG, CBN, CBND, CBE, and CBL. In 2018, cannabidiol, or CDB, was removed from the Prohibited List since it doesn’t have the properties of intoxication or euphoria that arguably, “violate the spirit of the game.” The 2021 Tokyo Olympics were the first games where athletes were allowed to use CBD to enhance their recovery. [3]

Marijuana is currently illegal under federal law, however, 19 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of recreational Marijuana. [4] Despite the legal pluralism that protects individuals in a state, the additional level of surveillance by the WADA and Athletes Integrity Unite again prohibits its use.

Critics claim that the research behind the first and second criteria for the WADA Prohibited List is contradictory. A published paper by WADA argues that marijuana can pose a health risk to athletes since the drug slows their reaction times and cognitive function. [5] Therefore, according to this claim, the second point wouldn't necessarily enhance the athlete’s performance since their physical response to the drug isn’t favorable for sport.

Furthermore, to determine whether or not marijuana is indeed performance-enhancing, many studies have taken place. The Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine conducted a study and review that concluded, “there is no evidence for cannabis use as a performance-enhancing drug.” [6] Meanwhile, the study’s findings also suggest that cannabis products, CBD included, could potentially enhance an athlete's recovery in terms of pain reduction, anxiety management, and sleep improvement.

However, since other prescription and over-the-counter drugs can help an athlete achieve these same “performance-enhancing” qualities, it is debated reasoning to prove that cannabis is a justly violated substance. Jordan Tishler, M.D., a cannabis specialist explained in a Runner’s World interview that cannabis will only impact an athlete’s performance when they are under the influence. [7] Furthermore, the side effects of weed would be harmful to athletic performance if this were to be the case. Therefore, Tishler and other experts agree that cannabis can provide athletes with enhanced recovery, not enhanced performance.

The third criterion for the WADA Prohibited List is perhaps the most difficult to establish. Multiple media outlets, including NPR, have reached out to WADA in hopes of obtaining a more clear and measurable definition for this point. [8] None have received a concrete response from WADA, leaving the public to assume that the spirit of the game boils down to the fact that athletes are role models for the future of the sport. Athletes, spectators, and research have suggested the hypocrisy of alcohol being permitted under this clause if drugs are excluded.

The Drug Policy Alliance is working to remove all forms of cannabis from the WADA Prohibited List in addition to legalizing it across the United States. The Drug Policy Alliance released in a statement that, "drug testing does nothing to show current impairment. The USADA must undo this archaic, inhumane, and unscientific policy.” [9]

A particular athlete whose WADA suspension caught the media’s attention was sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson. Soon after she qualified for the Olympics in the 100-meter dash at the US Team Trials, Richardson failed a routine drug test that revealed she had levels of THC in her system. [10] Despite her dominance at the Trials, she was suspended for a month which overlapped with her Olympic race date.

Contrary to the public’s typical response to a doping athlete, much of the fan and media coverage of Richardson was compassionate. In addition to sympathy being expressed for Richardson, the public began to question the US Anti-Doping Association’s ruling regarding marijuana. The major argument concerned CBD being allowed, and sometimes even encouraged, in the athletic world while the similar in theory but different biological compound, THC, is a suspendable substance.

As Richardson sat out of the Olympic games for using marijuana, US women’s soccer team forward, Megan Rapinoe, not only openly uses CBD but has her line of CBD products, Mendi. Rapinoe was featured in Forbes and celebrated by the athletic community for her and Mendi’s efforts to promote recovery and mental health. Ironically, this feature was published the same month Richardson was suspended for her use of THC.

Supporters of Richardson and some skeptics interpreted this as not only hypocritical but also a moral issue. Twitter was flooded with opinions justifying that Rapino has played by the WADA rules while Richardson was well aware that her actions were punishable by the Athletic Integrity Unit. Other Tweets, including, “Rapinoe gets CBD brand deals while Richardson gets suspended. Sounds about WHITE,” suggest that this disproportionate response to a similar compound reflects racial injustice. Another Twitter user compared the THC and CBD discrepancies to crack cocaine being more criminalized than powder cocaine, leading to disproportionate incarceration rates by income. This comparison is rooted in the accessibility and popularity of the drug’s variations within different demographics.

WADA, the Athletic Integrity Unit, and the Olympic Committee have yet to comment or make policy changes since these points have been brought up. However, there is currently a bill in Congress to legalize marijuana in the United States. Since CBD is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and permitted under WADA, there are implications that it is difficult to prohibit an FDA-approved substance. Alcohol is another example of this.

Marijuana and sport have a dynamic relationship in both policy and public opinion. Laws for Olympic competition are contingent upon WADA judgments that will likely waiver as further legislation and studies advance. Although CBD is an allowed substance, the products can contain trace amounts of other cannabis compounds that are flagged in drug tests. Therefore, until all marijuana forms are approved by WADA, no particular cannabinoid is truly safe to use in sport considering the risk involved.

NOTES:

Tori Powell. “20 Olympic Athletes Ineligible to Compete after Failing to Meet Anti-Doping Guidelines.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 29 July 2021, www.cbsnews.com/news/20-olympic-athletes-ineligible-to-compete-failing-anti-doping/
Fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport. “2021 CODE AND STANDARDS DOCUMENTS.” World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA's Mission Is to Lead a Collaborative Worldwide Movement for Doping-Free Sport., 1 Jan. 2021, www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/search?f%5B0%5D=field_resource_collections%3A228
Griffin Lynch. “Summer Olympics 2021: Athletes Can Use CBD.” BATCH, BATCH, 10 Oct. 2021, https://hellobatch.com/blogs/cbd-blog/summer-olympics-2021-athletes-can-use-cbd
Claire Hansen, Horus Alas, and Elliot Davis Jr. “Where Is Marijuana Legal? A Guide to Marijuana ...” US News, www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/where-is-marijuana-legal-a-guide-to-marijuana-legalization
Kelly Malcom. “An Olympic Controversy: Do Marijuana and Athletics Mix?” Health & Wellness Topics, Health Tips & Disease Prevention, 22 July 2021, https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/bones-muscles-joints/an-olympic-controversy-do-marijuana-and-athletics-mix
Alan Edwards. “Cannabis and the Health and Performance of the Elite Athlete : Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.” LWW, https://journals.lww.com/cjsportsmed/Fulltext/2018/09000/Cannabis_and_the_Health_and_Performance_of_the.9.aspx
Ashley Mateo. “Peak Performance Is Not Likely to Happen When You're Using Cannabis, Experts Say.” Runner's World, Runner's World, 2 Nov. 2021, www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a37350981/is-marijuana-performance-enhancing/
Vanessa Romo. “As Megan Rapinoe Promotes CBD Use, Sha'carri Richardson Sits out the Olympics.” NPR, NPR, 28 July 2021, www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/28/1021545034/megan-rapinoe-cbd-shacarri-richardson-tokyo-olympics
“Marijuana Legalization and Regulation.” Drug Policy Alliance, http://drugpolicy.org/issues/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation
Elisha Fieldstadt. “U.S. Sprinter Sha'carri Richardson Suspended for One Month after Failed Drug Test.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 14 July 2021, www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/sha-carri-richardson-could-miss-olympics-after-failed-drug-test-n1272960

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Costa, Jean-Paul. Legal Opinion 2019 (Expert Opinion) on the World Anti-Doping Code. WADA, 28 Oct. 2019, www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/avis_2019_code_mondial_en.pdf

Edwards, Alan. “Cannabis and the Health and Performance of the Elite Athlete : Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.” LWW, https://journals.lww.com/cjsportsmed/Fulltext/2018/09000/Cannabis_and_the_Health_and_Performance_of_the.9.aspx

Fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport. “2021 CODE AND STANDARDS DOCUMENTS.” World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA's Mission Is to Lead a Collaborative Worldwide Movement for Doping-Free Sport., 1 Jan. 2021, www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/search?f%5B0%5D=field_resource_collections%3A228

Hansen, Claire, et al. “Where Is Marijuana Legal? A Guide to Marijuana ...” US News, www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/where-is-marijuana-legal-a-guide-to-marijuana-legalization

Lynch, Griffin. “Summer Olympics 2021: Athletes Can Use CBD.” BATCH, BATCH, 10 Oct. 2021, https://hellobatch.com/blogs/cbd-blog/summer-olympics-2021-athletes-can-use-cbd

Malcom, Kelly. “An Olympic Controversy: Do Marijuana and Athletics Mix?” Health & Wellness Topics, Health Tips & Disease Prevention, 22 July 2021, https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/bones-muscles-joints/an-olympic-controversy-do-marijuana-and-athletics-mix

“Marijuana Legalization and Regulation.” Drug Policy Alliance, http://drugpolicy.org/issues/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation

Mateo, Ashley. “Peak Performance Is Not Likely to Happen When You're Using Cannabis, Experts Say.” Runner's World, Runner's World, 2 Nov. 2021, www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a37350981/is-marijuana-performance-enhancing/

Perishable. “Marijuana FAQ.” U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), 29 Sept. 2021, www.usada.org/athletes/substances/marijuana-faq/

Romo, Vanessa. “As Megan Rapinoe Promotes CBD Use, Sha'carri Richardson Sits out the Olympics.” NPR, NPR, 28 July 2021, www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/28/1021545034/megan-rapinoe-cbd-shacarri-richardson-tokyo-olympics

Tori, Tori. “20 Olympic Athletes Ineligible to Compete after Failing to Meet Anti-Doping Guidelines.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 29 July 2021, www.cbsnews.com/news/20-olympic-athletes-ineligible-to-compete-failing-anti-doping/

“U.S. Sprinter Sha'carri Richardson Suspended for One Month after Failed Drug Test.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 14 July 2021, www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/sha-carri-richardson-could-miss-olympics-after-failed-drug-test-n1272960