The White House has described Sha'Charri Richardson as an "inspiring young woman" following her suspension from the Olympic 100m race in Tokyo.
The athlete, 21, tested positive for THC - a chemical found in marijuana - earlier this week, and she has now been sanctioned for a month, putting her Olympics future in the air.
There were high hopes for Richardson to bring home the women's 100m gold for the US later this month, but she has been banned from competing in the event by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
The White House praised the athlete on Friday (July 2) at a briefing where Biden's Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked if President Biden supported the decision to sanction Richardson for a month.
"I would say first that this was an independent decision made by the US Anti-Doping Agency and not a decision made by the US government as is appropriate," Psaki said, as per The Independent.
The Press Secretary said the White House was giving the agency "space and room" to carry out its work regarding anti-doping policies.
"I will also note that Sha'Carri Richardson is an inspiring young woman who has gone through a lot personally... and she also happens to be one of the fastest women in the world," she added.
Richardson failed the drugs test after she qualified for the Olympic team by winning the women's 100m trials event in just 10.86 seconds - a qualifying victory that has now been invalidated.
She subsequently apologized for her actions in an interview with the Today show on Friday, explaining that she used the drug to following with the recent death of her biological mother prior to the trials.
"I'm blessed to be alive. I'm responsible for my actions. I know what I did, I know what I'm supposed to do, what I'm allowed not to do, and I still made that decision," she said.
"I'm not making any excuse or looking for any empathy in my case, being in that position of my life, finding out something like that, something that I would say one of the biggest things that have impacted me positively and negatively in my life, dealing with the relationship I had with my mother."
Now, numerous celebrities, including Seth Rogan, have spoken out in defense of the American athlete, who is hoping to still be allowed to compete in the 4x100m Olympic relay after her sanction ends.
"Right now I'm putting all of my time and energy to deal with what I need to do, which is heal myself. If I receive that blessing, I’m grateful, but if not I'll focus on myself," she said.