U.S. Olympic Committee forbids banned Shellby Houlihan to compete at Olympic Trials
Ultimately, American 1500m and 5000m record holder Shelby Houlihan will not be permitted to compete at the U.S. track and field Olympic trials.
On Tuesday, June 15 Athletics Integrity Unit (IAU) and the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) banned Houlihan for four years for testing positive for an anabolic steroid nandrolone. Meanwhile, Houlihan is appealing against the ban.
On Thursday the 28-year-old runner appeared on the US Olympic trials 1500m and 5000m start lists. The USA Track and Field (USATF) said that they allow athletes to compete while there is an active appeal process. It also said there were no plans to take her off.
On Thursday evening the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) stepped in and banned Houlihan from the competition.
USOPC chief executive officer Sarah Hirshland said it would stick to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and any rulings from the CAS, which regulate athlete participation in sanctioned events. Houlihan's four-year ban has been upheld by CAS, she will not be eligible to compete.
The IAU also made a statement on Thursday evening. "The AIU clarified that as a Member Federation of World Athletics, USATF must, in the running of its events, respect and implement decisions of hearing bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which are made under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules," it said.
The U.S track and field Olympic trials will take place in Eugene, Oregon from Friday, June 18 to Sunday, June 27.
