The War on Drugs is back on Track

Welcome back to the Bill Bradley Collective, where with the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo somehow set to commence, we examine the suspension of American track and field sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson following a positive test for marijuana. Richardson recorded the fastest time at the U.S. Olympic trials in the 100-meter, just months after recording the sixth-fastest 100-time in women’s history, qualifying her for the Tokyo games. She admitted to using marijuana following the recent death of her mother as well as to cope with anxieties brought on the pressure of Olympic qualification. Expected to be one of the brightest stars on Team U.S.A., how Richardson could be subject to discipline (from one of the most corrupt bodies in sport) for doing something *completely legal* (in Oregon) and how common sense was unable to prevail in getting her suspension overturned is the main focus of the conversation, while additionally touching on the opposite reaction afforded Michael Phelps by both the USOC and public several years ago, and also President Biden’s soft both-sides messaging on Richardson’s situation. But first we rant, where Ed tells an Orwellian tale of seemingly impossible wretchedness regarding passage in Texas of an-anti abortion bill that taps citizens to collect bounties on anyone remotely involved in the process; Andrew describes toxicity at ESPN in the context of serious journalists being stripped of the ability to do serious journalism on entities that the “world leader” has billions of dollars at stake in while Ed and Zak take on the Bristol cesspool in lieu of this week’s Rachel Nichols/Maria Taylor controversy; Zak brings it home with a stark condemnation of American tax policy by contrasting the individual tax situations of the billionaire franchise owner, the millionaire athlete and the low-wage arena-concession laborer.

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