Shelby Houlihan's 4-year Ban Lifts at Midnight Tonight
It's somehow already been 4 years since the most exciting and heavily debated USA elite women's running news of 2021: Shelby Houlihan's ban after testing positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid ostensibly used to increase muscle mass. Houlihan & her team placed the blame on an authentic Mexican Food Truck Burrito, a defense which was ultimately rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in upholding the ban.
Anyway, the original ban and surrounding hilarity has been debated and reviewed to death. I'm curious what the sub thinks will happen with Houlihan's planned return to the sport. Houlihan reportedly has been training (mostly independently?) the last four years. And has self-reported training 80+ miles/week and plans to compete in indoor this season. Along with time trial times in the past year, including a 2:03 800m and 4:02 1500m.
Starter questions:
- Houlihan was a favorite for US Olympic teams in the 1500m and 5000m at the time of her ban. Where do you think she'll stack up with an increasingly competitive US women's distance field including St Pierre, Monson, Cranny, Schweizer, and Hiltz, MacKay, Johnson in the 1500m?
- How do you think fans/spectators will react to her return to the track and roads?
- Do you think sponsors will pick Houlihan back up? If so, which sponsors do you think are the most likely?
As a reminder, Houlihan currently holds:
- #1 all-time US women's mark for 1500m (3:54.99)
- #2 all-time US women's mark for 5000m (14:23)
- #6 all-time US women's mark for 3000m (8:26)