Eugene (United States) (AFP) – US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson withdrew from the US Track and Field Championships in Oregon on Friday as it emerged she had been arrested on an allegation of domestic violence against sprinter boyfriend Christian Coleman days earlier. Reigning world 100m champion Richardson was held by police at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Sunday after a violent altercation with her partner, 2019 world 100m champion Coleman.
An account of Richardson’s arrest report emailed to AFP by Port of Seattle Police said security video footage captured Richardson in a verbal altercation with Coleman as the duo exited a security screening. “Richardson is following and getting close to Coleman several times as Coleman appears to be trying to walk away,” the report reads. “Richardson then pushes Coleman hard enough that it sends him crashing into a nearby column….she again pushes Coleman, again hard enough that it sends him flying a few feet away.” Richardson is then seen throwing a set of headphones at Coleman, who did not want to participate in the investigation and “declined to be a victim,” the officer’s report reads. Richardson was detained and released on Monday following the incident. Richardson’s management team also did not reply to a request for comment.
Related news
News of Richardson’s arrest came as USA Track and Field confirmed she would play no further part in this week’s championships in Eugene after racing in the opening heats of the women’s 100m on Thursday. Richardson — who famously was barred from competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after testing positive for marijuana use after her victory at the US trials — gave no clue of fresh controversy in her private life after her heat on Thursday. The Texan star laughed and joked with journalists as she discussed her form and fitness heading into September’s World Championships in Tokyo. She did not mention her arrest earlier in the week and was not asked about it.
As a defending world champion, Richardson already has a bye into the World Championships in Japan and was under no obligation to race in Eugene this week. She clocked her fastest 100m of the season in Thursday’s heat, with a time of 11.07sec. She had been due to run in this weekend’s 200m, but a USATF spokesman said she had scratched from both the 100m and 200m. Richardson’s name remained on the 200m start list late Friday. A smiling Richardson said on Thursday she had been happy to compete in Eugene knowing that her place on the team for Tokyo was already assured. “USA is one of the hardest teams to make, so it definitely is a kind of a release of pressure knowing I have a bye,” she told AFP. “It feels really good to not have that pressure and still be able to go to Tokyo.”
Right now I’m cruising under the radar, but when it’s time to hit — it’s going to be a bang where y’all see my name,” she said. Richardson’s exit came as men’s 100m world champion Noah Lyles withdrew from the remaining rounds of the short sprint. Lyles, who is also already qualified for Tokyo, will race in the 200m on Sunday. Olympic women’s 200m champion Gabby Thomas has also withdrawn from the rest of the 100m and will focus on the 200m.
© 2024 AFP
