Distance Runner Gets 4-Year Ban For Steroids, Blames A Burrito

 

An Iowa native who was set to compete in next month’s Tokyo Olympics has been banned from competitive distance running for four years. Shelby Houlihan, 28, was popped for anabolic steroids after testing positive for nandrolone, which resulted in the four-year banishment. According to Houlihan, she wasn’t cycling Winstrol, or stacking Dbol, it was a burrito that did her dirty.

The current national champion and 1,500- and 5,000-meter record holder said in her Instagram story that: “the most likely explanation (for the failed test) was a burrito purchased and consumed approximately 10 hours before that drug test from an authentic Mexican food truck”.

Per Yahoo Sports, Houlihan was initially banned by the Athletics Integrity Unit and appealed the ruling, before hearing on Friday that her appeal was not accepted.

Houlihan was expected to compete in the Tokyo Olympics in July and most within the sport expected her to contend for a medal. This would’ve been her second Olympics, having competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

She took to Instagram to proclaim her innocence:

“I feel completely devastated, lost, broken, angry, confused and betrayed by the very sport that I’ve loved and poured myself into just to see how good I was. I want to be very clear. I have never taken any performance enhancing substances. And that includes that of which I am being accused. I believe in the sport and pushing your body to the limit just to see where the limit is. I’m not interested in cheating. I don’t do this for the accolades, money, or for people to know my name. I do this because I love it. I have so much fun doing it and it’s always the best part of my day.”

Speaking from personal experience, I too have felt the effects of a burrito consumed 10 hours prior.