Back then, Richardson was just as feisty and just as fast. She was a top contender to win gold in the 100 meters at the Tokyo games. But then, just days after she booked her place in the games, she was disqualified for testing positive for cannabis. 
Richardson, who was raised by her grandmother, took responsibility for the positive drug test, explaining she used marijuana to cope with the emotional pain of her biological mother’s death.
“It sent me into a state of emotional panic,” she explained at the time. “I didn’t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time.”
The news set off a furious debate about the fairness of what had happened. Some noted that marijuana is hardly a performance-enhancing drug, and that, given rapidly evolving attitudes and laws around its use, it was high time to remove it from the banned substances list. Others were less sympathetic, noting that Richardson had known the rules and broken them anyway.In the aftermath of this firestorm, Richardson struggled.
“In a highly anticipated race in August 2021 that included the three Jamaican women who swept the Tokyo 100-meter medals, Richardson finished last,” the Wall Street Journal reported. “She pulled out of several races in early 2022 without explanation. In June 2022, the woman who had crushed the field at the U.S. trials shockingly failed to reach the final of the U.S. championships.
“Butsomething happened as Richardson went into 2023,” the WSJ continues. “She began winning nearly all of her races again.” The iconic wig toss wasn’t just a fierce fashion moment, but a symbol of rebirth as she tossed off emotional baggage along with her wig.
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