Sha’Carri Richardson arrested for alleged domestic violence at airport

SEATTLE, Wash. – Reigning 100-meter world champion Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested on Sunday, July 27, 2025, for domestic violence following an incident at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The arrest stemmed from an alleged physical altercation with her boyfriend, fellow Olympic sprinter Christian Coleman.

According to a police report, airport security footage captured the altercation, which occurred near a TSA checkpoint. The report states that Richardson was seen allegedly pushing Coleman multiple times, shoving him into a column, and also throwing a pair of headphones at him.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s boyfriend declined pressing charges

Richardson was arrested on a fourth-degree domestic violence charge and booked into a local correctional facility. She was released the following day. Verified reports state she withdrew from events post-arrest.

Coleman, who was identified as the victim in the police report, declined to press charges.

Speaking after a sixth-place finish in the 200m at the US track championships, Coleman said he believed Richardson should not have been detained following the incident.

“For me personally, I feel like it was a sucky situation all round,” Coleman said when asked about the incident. “I don’t feel like she should have been arrested.”

“I mean people have discussions and emotions and stuff like that. She has things that she needs to work on for herself of course. So do I, so do you, so does everybody,” Coleman stated.

As the defending world champion in the 100-meter dash, she has an automatic bye for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. She later withdrew from both the 100m semifinals and the 200m competition.

This incident marks another chapter in the turbulent career of the celebrated athlete. Richardson was barred from competing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for marijuana following the death of a loved one.

Richardson returned to top form

She has since returned to the track,returned to the track, capturing a world title and anchoring the U.S. to Olympic gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2024 Paris Games. USA Track & Field has acknowledged awareness of the reports but has not commented further on the matter.

Her professional career began with high expectations, and she quickly delivered. At the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, Richardson won the 100m, seemingly securing her spot for the Tokyo Olympics. However, her victory was short-lived.

As aforementioned, she was handed a one-month suspension after testing positive for THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana. The suspension, which she accepted, meant she would miss the Olympic Games, a devastating blow that sparked a national conversation about the rules governing athletes.

Despite this setback, Richardson was determined to return to the top of the sport. The following years saw her working her way back into elite form. It culminated in a spectacular performance at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. There, she silenced doubters by winning the gold medal in the 100m with a championship record time of 10.65 seconds. She also earned a bronze in the 200m and anchored the women’s 4x100m relay team to a gold medal.

Notably, Sha’Carri Richardson continued her ascent at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she claimed a silver medal in the 100m.

Her journey, marked by both controversy and incredible success, has solidified her as one of track and field’s most dynamic and captivating figures.