Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) sent a letter to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency encouraging the group to rethink sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson's one-month suspension for recreational marijuana use.
What they're saying: "We urge you to reconsider the policies that led to this and other suspensions for recreational marijuana use, and to reconsider Ms. Richardson’s suspension. Please strike a blow for civil liberties and civil rights by reversing this course you are on," Ocasio-Cortez and Raskin said.
Namibian 18-year-old sprinters Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi will not be allowed to compete in the women's 400 meters at the Tokyo Olympics due to having naturally high testosterone levels, according to the Namibia National Olympic Committee.
Driving the news: The sprinters now join South African runner Caster Semenya, who is banned from competing after World Athletics ruled in 2018 "that to ensure fair competition, women with high natural testosterone levels must take medication to reduce them to compete in middle-distance races," CNN writes.
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) said that swimming caps designed for natural Black hair have been banned from use in this summer's Tokyo Olympics, BBC News reports.
Driving the news: Soul Cap, the British Black-owned company that made the caps, told BBC that FINA argued the hats do not "fit the natural form of the head" and that to their "best knowledge the athletes competing at the international events never used, neither require to use, caps of such size and configuration."
America's best shot for Olympic gold in the women's 100 meters won't be competing, after testing positive for marijuana.
Driving the news: U.S. favorite sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson has been suspended after testing positive for marijuana that she said she used to cope with her biological mother's death, which had put her in "a state of emotional panic."
Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson, who was poised to be one of the faces of Team USA in Tokyo, will be unable to compete in the 100-meter race at the Olympics after testing positive for marijuana and accepting a one-month suspension, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced Friday.
Why it matters: The Texan, who is the second-fastest woman in the 100 meters this year (10.72 seconds), was aiming to become the first American woman to win a gold in the event since Gail Devers in 1999.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer was placed on administrative leave for seven days amid allegations of sexual assault, Major League Baseball announced Friday.
Driving the news: A woman who alleges Bauer assaulted her on two occasions was granted a temporary protective order earlier this week, The Athletic reports. The MLB and Pasadena Police Department are investigating the allegations.
The first day of the NIL era got off to rip-roaring start. Deals were made, money was exchanged, and total chaos ensued as a century-old American institution crumbled and began anew.
What's happening: A lot. Here's a sampling of the news from Thursday.
