Shelby Houlihan to compete at U.S. Olympic trials
Despite her four-year ban issued earlier this week, the American 1,500m and 5,000m record holder will be allowed to compete at the track and field trials
The USATF has announced that American Olympian Shelby Houlihan, who was given a four-year ban earlier this week after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone, will be permitted to compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials next week. The organization said in a statement that if there is an active appeal process in progress, any athlete can compete until the process is complete.
USATF statement on event start lists from Susan Hazzard, USATF Managing Director of Communications:
“Given there is an active appeal process, USATF will allow any athletes to continue competing until the process is completed.”
— USATF (@usatf) June 17, 2021
RELATED: American record holder Shelby Houlihan receives 4-year ban following positive drug test
Houlihan, who is the American record holder in both the 1,500m and the 5,000m (3:54.99 and 14:23.92, respectively), has denied the allegations against her, claiming the positive result was due to contaminated meat she ate in a burrito from a food truck on the day of the test. If the ban is upheld, she will not be able to compete at the Tokyo Olympics this summer or the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Track fans are divided on the decision, with some pointing out that it often takes months for athletes to get hearings. If this is the case, the Court of Arbitration for Sport will not hear Houlihan’s appeal before the Olympics, prompting many to ask if that means she will be allowed to compete in Tokyo. Others are asking what it will mean for other athletes if she makes the team instead of them, and still more are wondering why Houlihan is allowed to compete during her appeal, while others have not been given the same opportunity.
According to NBC Sports, USATF CEO Max Siegel did not want to deny her the chance to qualify should she be reinstated on an appeal. “You can always resolve the outcome later, but you can’t re-run a race,” he said.
RELATED: Former Olympic hurdles champion receives 5-year ban for doping
Editor’s update: later on June 17 it was announced that the decision had been reversed, and that Houlihan would not be allowed to compete at Trials.
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