BTW I am revolted by Shelby. What a disgrace she is to the sport.
She could have been anything. She could have done anything. This isn't some story like Faith Kipyegon, who won the Olympics and then her village got electricity for the first time. She was a privileged white American kid who could have gone to college, gotten a job, an apartment, a 401K and run as a hobby on the side. She chose to be a pro runner. she should have respected and honored the sport and her choice. If she couldn't make it clean, then don't make it at all. fall back on something else like dozens of other American runners end up doing. Leave, at least with your integrity.
But she was greedy. 49 seconds off of her 5K PR by 2017, and take an additional 24 seconds between 2017-2018 for that American record. She even shocked her coaches with her progress. Shalane had to scramble to get more and more fitness. Then take an additional 11 seconds off of that time for a 14:23. She blew Jenny Simpson, the world silver medalist, out of the water for the US Title in the 1500 in 2018. Got an American record 3:54.99 out of that too in 2019. She went from a formidable US competitor to unbeatable. In her fourth year as a pro she became a dominant runner for the first time in her life. Even in high school, and college, she was always good but never dominant. But her hairline receded, her facial structure expanded and she packed on muscle. And she became unbeatable.
Her mother, her uncle and her sister are heavily involved in the sport. her friends, her teammates her competitors all in the sport but didn't matter. What prompted that selfish choice? What caused her to take this path when she didn't have to? Didn't she realize how she could embarrass those people if she was caught?
I wonder if she felt bad for Jenny Simpson when she embarrassed her at the US Champs. I wonder if she felt guilty when Rachel Schneider had to graciously thank her for letting her know that her fourth place finish at USAs was good enough for the world champs team since Shelby would not be running the 5K. I wonder if Sifan's blatant doping and cheating made her feel a bit justified.
I'm not going to write her off as a narcissist or a sociopath. No, a personality disorder would be too easy of an excuse. Shelby was just a callow, entitled, and selfish person who chose to dope just like everyone who chooses this path is. I don't care how many there are. If you are a privileged person, and you are choosing to dope, I think nothing of you. I make no excuses for you. You are not a scapegoat, you are not a victim, I feel no sympathy. You could have chosen another path.
Now she's still claiming innocence. how can she think anyone but the gullible running media will believe her? If she fessed up and told the truth like everyone's already figured out what happened, there would be some closure. But now she's trying to make herself into a victim which is even more sickening. Casting doubt on the anti doping system hurts the sport tremendously. Doing it when you know you are guilty is even worse.