US Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson Arrested For Alleged Assault On Partner

Last Updated:August 02, 2025, 08:29 IST

Richardson was arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend at Seattle-Tacoma Airport. Despite this, she will compete in the 200m at the US Track and Field Championships.

US' Sha'Carri Richardson is at the centre of a new controversy. (AFP)

US sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson found herself embroiled in another controversy on Friday after being arrested for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend, Christian Coleman, just before the US Track and Field Championships in Oregon.

Police in Washington State reported that the 25-year-old 100m world champion was detained on Sunday night following an altercation with Coleman at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

An email to AFP from Port of Seattle Police detailed Richardson’s arrest, citing security video footage that captured a verbal dispute between Richardson and Coleman as they 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 states.

“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 then threw a set of headphones at Coleman, who declined to participate in the investigation and “declined to be a victim," according to the officer’s report.

Richardson was detained and released on Monday following the incident, which the police report categorized as domestic violence.

The news of Richardson’s arrest coincided with USA Track and Field officials announcing that she had withdrawn from the remaining 100m rounds and Sunday’s 200m event.

However, USATF officials later confirmed that Richardson—already qualified for the 100m at September’s World Championships in Tokyo—had decided to compete in the 200m this weekend.

“She initially told us she would not run in the 200m, but she never formally scratched. She has since informed us she will now enter the 200m," a USATF spokesperson told AFP.

Marred By Controversies

This incident is just another in a series of controversies surrounding Richardson’s career.

She was famously barred from competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after testing positive for marijuana following her victory at the US trials while grieving her biological mother’s death.

In 2023, she was removed from an American Airlines flight after an argument with a flight attendant.

The Texan athlete had given no hint of her latest controversy when speaking to journalists on Thursday after her opening 100m heat. She did not mention her arrest earlier in the week and was not questioned about it.

As the defending world champion, Richardson already had a guaranteed spot at the World Championships in Japan for the 100m and was not obligated to compete in Eugene this week.

On Thursday, Richardson expressed her relief at competing in Eugene, knowing her place on the Tokyo team was secured.

“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 dramatic day coincided with men’s 100m world champion Noah Lyles withdrawing from the remaining rounds of the short sprint. Lyles, already qualified for Tokyo, will compete 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.

With AFP Inputs

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Location :

Eugene, United States

First Published:

August 02, 2025, 08:29 IST

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