2020: Tokyo Olympics and suspension Richardson qualified for the
2020 Summer Olympics with a 100-meter time of 10.77 seconds at the
2020 United States Olympic Trials. It was 0.13 seconds faster than
Javianne Oliver, who finished second. A urine sample that she submitted tested positive for
THC metabolites indicating recent cannabis use, which put her participation in the Olympics in doubt. After successfully completing a counseling program, she accepted a one-month suspension by the
United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that began on June 28, 2021. Richardson stated that she took the drug to cope with the pressure of qualifying for the Olympics while mourning the recent death of her biological mother. Her suspension was criticized by many individuals and organizations in favor of liberalizing cannabis policies, including
NORML, members of the
Congressional Cannabis Caucus, and other members of Congress. U.S. President
Joe Biden also suggested that drug-testing rules governing athletes could be changed. USADA responded to the criticism by pointing out that as a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, it has an obligation to enforce it in the United States. Furthermore, they stated that changing those rules might be problematic, as the vast majority of the world's nation states consider consuming marijuana a criminal offense. In response to the controversy, in September 2021, the
World Anti-Doping Agency announced that it would conduct a review regarding the prohibited status of cannabis. Cannabis has remained a prohibited drug for Olympic athletes since 1999, though in 2013 the World Anti-Doping Agency increased the level of THC metabolite allowed from 15 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL. Richardson returned to the track at the 2021
Prefontaine Classic, placing ninth – last place – with a time of 11.14 seconds. The Tokyo medalists, Jamaicans
Elaine Thompson-Herah,
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and
Shericka Jackson, repeated their placements.
2023: World Athletics Championships On April 8, 2023, she ran the fourth-fastest 100 m by a woman in all conditions, clocking 10.57 seconds with a strong,
illegal 4.1 m/s tailwind to win the women's final at the Miramar Invitational. It converts to 10.77 s in still conditions. In May 2023, she secured her first
Diamond League victory, winning the 100 m in
Doha with a new meeting record of 10.76 s (+0.9 m/s). In July 2023, Richardson participated at the
2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. On July 7, 2023, Richardson became the US national champion in the 100-metre sprint event by winning the women's 100 m final in 10.82 seconds, qualifying for the
2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. On August 25, 2023, she won bronze in the women's 200 m final in 21.92 seconds, finishing behind USA teammate
Gabrielle Thomas (21.81), and defending women's 200 m world champion
Shericka Jackson (21:41
CR). She would also go on to win gold as part of Team USA in the women's 4 × 100 m relay final with a championship record of 41.03 seconds. Her relay time of 9.65 seconds was the fastest in history. Sha'Carri's teammates in this event were
Tamari Davis,
Twanisha Terry, and Gabrielle Thomas. At the
2024 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Richardson defended her title in the women's 100-meter sprint event, winning the final in 10.71 seconds on June 22, 2024, and qualifying for the event at the
2024 Summer Olympics in
Paris. She did not qualify for the 200 m, however, finishing fourth in the final of the qualifier. At the Olympics
100 m Richardson finished second behind
Saint Lucia's
Julien Alfred, who had a faster start out of the blocks and never relinquished her lead. In the
women's 4 × 100 relay, Richardson ran the race's
anchor leg; after a shaky handoff from teammate
Gabrielle Thomas, Richardson propelled the U.S. women from third place to first, clinching her first Olympic gold medal. Before crossing the finish line, Richardson turned her head to stare down her closest competitors in one of the Game's iconic moments.
2025: World Athletics Championships Melissa Jefferson-Wooden,
Twanisha Terry,
Kayla White, and Richardson ran in the women's 4 × 100 m relay, posting a mark of 41.75 seconds for world's gold over Jamaica and Germany.
2026 Richardson would travel to Australia to compete in the annual prestigious Easter weekend 120m sprint known as the
Stawell Gift where she emerged victorious. == Sponsorships ==