Reigning 100-meter world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested last weekend on a fourth-degree domestic violence charge following an alleged altercation with her boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman. The incident took place at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport just days before Richardson was scheduled to compete at the U.S. track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon.
According to a police report obtained by The Associated Press, an airport police officer was notified of a disturbance by a Transportation Security Administration supervisor. After reviewing camera footage, the officer observed Richardson reach out and grab Coleman’s backpack before yanking it away. The report states that Richardson then appeared to get in Coleman’s way as he tried to step around her, and that he was subsequently shoved into a wall. The report also says Richardson appeared to throw an item at Coleman, which the TSA indicated may have been headphones.
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The 25-year-old sprinter was booked into the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) in Des Moines, Washington, at 6:54 p.m. last Sunday and was released the following day at 1:13 p.m. The police report noted that Coleman “did not want to participate any further in the investigation and declined to be a victim.”
Despite the arrest, Richardson was on the track in Eugene on Thursday, running in the opening round of the women’s 100 meters. As the defending world champion from her victory in Budapest in 2023, she holds an automatic bye to the upcoming world championships in Tokyo this September.
This incident adds another complex chapter to Richardson’s high profile career. After a suspension for a positive marijuana test kept her out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she rebounded to become a dominant force in the sport, winning the world title in 2023 and earning a silver medal in the 100 meters and a gold in the 4×100 relay at the Paris Olympic Games last summer.
When asked for comment, USA Track and Field issued a statement saying it “is aware of the reports and is not commenting on this matter.” Richardson’s agent did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
