Sha'Carri Richardson, the reigning 100-meter world champion, was arrested on Sunday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She faces allegations of fourth-degree domestic violence involving her boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman.
According to a police report, the incident occurred during a heated argument between the couple. Airport security footage captured the confrontation, which began after they exited the security screening area. The report indicates that Richardson followed Coleman closely as he attempted to walk away. At one point, she allegedly pushed him into a column, and after he tried to distance himself, she pushed him again, causing him to stumble several feet away.
The situation escalated when Richardson reportedly threw a pair of headphones at Coleman, hitting him. A Transportation Security Administration supervisor alerted airport police to the disturbance. After reviewing the footage, officers determined there was probable cause to arrest Richardson.
Richardson was booked into the South Correctional Entity Jail in Des Moines, Washington, at 6:54 p.m. on Sunday and was released the following day at 1:13 p.m. Coleman, who is also a world-class sprinter, declined to participate further in the investigation and did not wish to be considered a victim.
Despite her arrest, Richardson competed in the opening round of the women's 100 meters at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday. She has an automatic qualification for the upcoming world championships in Tokyo, where she will defend her title.
Richardson, 25, has faced scrutiny in the past, including a positive marijuana test at the 2021 U.S. Olympic trials, which prevented her from competing in the Tokyo Olympics. Her recent arrest adds to the controversies surrounding her career, raising questions about athlete conduct standards.
USA Track and Field has acknowledged awareness of the situation but has not commented further. Richardson's agent did not respond to requests for comment.