Sha’Carri Richardson withdraws from USATF women’s 100 after arrest

Sha Carri Richardson, an EUGENE sprinter, withdrew from the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships’ 100-meter semifinals on Friday following reports that she had been arrested on Sunday at Seattle’s SeaTac Airport.

The racing website LetsRun.com was the first to report that Richardson and her boyfriend, sprinter Christian Coleman, had a physical argument.

She allegedly tossed headphones at Coleman as he was leaving and repeatedly assaulted him. Coleman chose not to file a complaint.

The World Athletics Outdoor Championships in Tokyo next month are qualified by the USA championships. Richardson’s 2023 world title gives her a wildcard to the 100 in the World Meet. Even if news of her detention hadn’t broken, it’s unclear if she would have participated in Friday’s 100 semifinals.

Richardson was still registered for the 200 at the USA competition, which is set for Sunday, as of Friday night.

Richardson has previously experienced off-track problems during a significant competition in Eugene. After testing positive for cannabis, she was disqualified from the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she had won the 100.