The ban on cannabis came into focus last year when American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson was ruled out of the Tokyo Olympics 100 metres after receiving a one-month ban for using the drug in the wake of her mother’s death.
WADA had just reduced the bans for recreational drug use by athletes who tested positive out of competition from two years down to one to three months.
After requests from some “stakeholders”, however, WADA agreed to review the cannabis ban but decided on Friday to maintain it because the use of the drug “violated the spirit of sport”.
WADA said the level of the active agent of cannabis in a sample needed to trigger a positive test in competition would require the user to be a “significantly impaired athlete or a frequent user”.
“WADA is aware of the diversity of opinions and perceptions related to this substance around the world, and even within certain countries,” director general Olivier Niggli said.
“WADA plans to continue research in this area in relation with (its) potential performance enhancing effects, its impact on the health of athletes and also in relation to perceptions of cannabis from athletes, experts and others around the world.”
