Jonathan Gault has written an in-depth feature on what Shelby Houlihan's prospects are moving forward. He quotes 3 shoe execs as to whether there is a market for her, has quotes from her new agent Paul Doyle and also a quote from Jerry Schumacher as to whether or not he'd want to coach her.
PS. The article is behind our SC paywall for 24 hours. Support independent journalism and join the SC today for instant access. If you can't join the SC today, make sure you come to LRC each and every day as after 24 hours we will briefly lift the paywall for this article.
I am not mad but as someone who is woke, and significantly smarter than you unwoke folk, I can try to wake you up, but it appears as if you will remain Rip Van Stinkle.
Reflecting on what I have learned (or really confirmed what I already knew) in the 4 years of Shelby's ban:
US Running Media is outrageously biased, and I'll say it, racist: It was pretty jaw dropping and obvious, it still delivered a shock. How could so many lack so much self awareness? Lauren Fleshman had previously called for lifetime bans of dopers, and made snide remarks about how all medalists are just from "two countries" (Kenya and Ethiopia). But when Shelby was banned, she jumped to call it a tragedy and never retracted. Erin Strout prattled on about Shelby's character, rather than illustrating the facts of the case, and even Malcolm Gladwell claimed Shelby would be "too smart" to take nandrolone, even though he doesn't know her at all.
To be clear, Whiteness isn't a get out of jail free card. We don't give Russian runners the same rope, for example. And if Galen Rupp was ever popped, I doubt he'd be treated the same, but whiteness is a factor. Along with being western, American and approachable. The US media will do anything to protect their own, abandoning the most basic journalistic principals to clear the path to see their favorites succeed. They don't care about antidoping, they care about their favorites medaling. Even the Brojos and Gault abandoned their principals to make the most nonsensical arguments defending her. And that's a shame.
Running fans were way smarter than I thought: Contrarily this was a pleasant surprise. Running fans, who on this website are always branded as racist j*rks were very consistent on this issue, seeing this case for what it was from the get go. Read the initial threads and you'll immediately see posters calling this out, focusing on the case itself, her shady progression, and seeing no lee-way. Fans did not buy into the press conference, they were not manipulated or pulled by biases. Even from the beginning. That was refreshing.
The contrasting views between the media and the fans caused a lot more pain for Shelby: There's a reason why a Shelby thread will go crazy on here. There's a reason why so much vitriol exists. The more she lies, and the more the media offers her platforms to lie without pushback, the harder it is for her. Because ultimately people don't like being lied to. The media did her no favors by trying to provide weak cover for her. They only made it worse.
The US Distance Running Community is probably guiltier than we thought: The silence spoke volumes, and only a few ever spoke up in a meaningful way. At this point, I really believe that grey area doping is prevalent and the pervasive thought is that as long as it's not EPO or HGH you're not "really" cheating. Seeing the collapse of BTC was illuminating too. What happened to Karissa Schweizer? She ran 14:26 in 2020, but the next year she never came close to that...
USADA Covers for US Athletes: It seems apparent that USADA is not really super interested in catching dopers...
Here are my reflections.
AIU cares more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right: AIU refused to grant Shelby's request to conduct an extra test that could have proved her innocence. If they cared about getting it right, they would have conducted the extra test. They not only refused to conduct the extra test, they had Christiane Ayotte's lab analyze Shelby's sample and used Ayotte's testimony against Shelby even though Ayotte is the same woman who provided FALSE TESTIMONY against Jarrion Lawson! Ayotte is a Canadian who is demonstrably out to get US athletes, but AIU used her testing and testimony because they care more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right.
Running fans are fickle: They will turn on someone faster than Usain Bolt runs a 100! Then they'll lambaste anyone who remains loyal to the new target of their disdain. Even that person's family and friends! Most running fans have no concept of loyalty.
This message board is full of hypocrites: They hate Shelby with a passion while looking the other way as runners who are way more sus than Shelby ever was do incredibly sus things.
Reflecting on what I have learned (or really confirmed what I already knew) in the 4 years of Shelby's ban:
US Running Media is outrageously biased, and I'll say it, racist: It was pretty jaw dropping and obvious, it still delivered a shock. How could so many lack so much self awareness? Lauren Fleshman had previously called for lifetime bans of dopers, and made snide remarks about how all medalists are just from "two countries" (Kenya and Ethiopia). But when Shelby was banned, she jumped to call it a tragedy and never retracted. Erin Strout prattled on about Shelby's character, rather than illustrating the facts of the case, and even Malcolm Gladwell claimed Shelby would be "too smart" to take nandrolone, even though he doesn't know her at all.
To be clear, Whiteness isn't a get out of jail free card. We don't give Russian runners the same rope, for example. And if Galen Rupp was ever popped, I doubt he'd be treated the same, but whiteness is a factor. Along with being western, American and approachable. The US media will do anything to protect their own, abandoning the most basic journalistic principals to clear the path to see their favorites succeed. They don't care about antidoping, they care about their favorites medaling. Even the Brojos and Gault abandoned their principals to make the most nonsensical arguments defending her. And that's a shame.
Running fans were way smarter than I thought: Contrarily this was a pleasant surprise. Running fans, who on this website are always branded as racist j*rks were very consistent on this issue, seeing this case for what it was from the get go. Read the initial threads and you'll immediately see posters calling this out, focusing on the case itself, her shady progression, and seeing no lee-way. Fans did not buy into the press conference, they were not manipulated or pulled by biases. Even from the beginning. That was refreshing.
The contrasting views between the media and the fans caused a lot more pain for Shelby: There's a reason why a Shelby thread will go crazy on here. There's a reason why so much vitriol exists. The more she lies, and the more the media offers her platforms to lie without pushback, the harder it is for her. Because ultimately people don't like being lied to. The media did her no favors by trying to provide weak cover for her. They only made it worse.
The US Distance Running Community is probably guiltier than we thought: The silence spoke volumes, and only a few ever spoke up in a meaningful way. At this point, I really believe that grey area doping is prevalent and the pervasive thought is that as long as it's not EPO or HGH you're not "really" cheating. Seeing the collapse of BTC was illuminating too. What happened to Karissa Schweizer? She ran 14:26 in 2020, but the next year she never came close to that...
USADA Covers for US Athletes: It seems apparent that USADA is not really super interested in catching dopers...
Here are my reflections.
AIU cares more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right: AIU refused to grant Shelby's request to conduct an extra test that could have proved her innocence. If they cared about getting it right, they would have conducted the extra test. They not only refused to conduct the extra test, they had Christiane Ayotte's lab analyze Shelby's sample and used Ayotte's testimony against Shelby even though Ayotte is the same woman who provided FALSE TESTIMONY against Jarrion Lawson! Ayotte is a Canadian who is demonstrably out to get US athletes, but AIU used her testing and testimony because they care more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right.
Running fans are fickle: They will turn on someone faster than Usain Bolt runs a 100! Then they'll lambaste anyone who remains loyal to the new target of their disdain. Even that person's family and friends! Most running fans have no concept of loyalty.
This message board is full of hypocrites: They hate Shelby with a passion while looking the other way as runners who are way more sus than Shelby ever was do incredibly sus things.
Oh wow. Shelby does not need to be crucified. But she cheated in athletics, and she had the misfortune of getting caught. Then she lied and lied and continues to lie. You what aboutism games show that integrity is not your strength.
AIU cares more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right: AIU refused to grant Shelby's request to conduct an extra test that could have proved her innocence.
Fake news. They didn't do the PK test (to distinguish between ingestion and injection) because ingestion was obvious - see her negative test on January 23, 2021 - point 113 in the case decision. That has nothing to do with innocence or refusal. Also nothing with anti-American LOL.
And your disdain/hate/hypocrites comments: all equally ridiculous. Despising a banned doper is neither indicative of hate nor of hypocrisy.
AIU cares more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right: AIU refused to grant Shelby's request to conduct an extra test that could have proved her innocence. If they cared about getting it right, they would have conducted the extra test. They not only refused to conduct the extra test, they had Christiane Ayotte's lab analyze Shelby's sample and used Ayotte's testimony against Shelby even though Ayotte is the same woman who provided FALSE TESTIMONY against Jarrion Lawson! Ayotte is a Canadian who is demonstrably out to get US athletes, but AIU used her testing and testimony because they care more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right.
Running fans are fickle: They will turn on someone faster than Usain Bolt runs a 100! Then they'll lambaste anyone who remains loyal to the new target of their disdain. Even that person's family and friends! Most running fans have no concept of loyalty.
This message board is full of hypocrites: They hate Shelby with a passion while looking the other way as runners who are way more sus than Shelby ever was do incredibly sus things.
Oh wow. Shelby does not need to be crucified. But she cheated in athletics, and she had the misfortune of getting caught. Then she lied and lied and continues to lie. You what aboutism games show that integrity is not your strength.
In sure Shelby is Sweet. but that does not make her clean
AIU cares more about getting athletes suspended than getting it right: AIU refused to grant Shelby's request to conduct an extra test that could have proved her innocence.
Fake news. They didn't do the PK test (to distinguish between ingestion and injection) because ingestion was obvious - see her negative test on January 23, 2021 - point 113 in the case decision. That has nothing to do with innocence or refusal. Also nothing with anti-American LOL.
And your disdain/hate/hypocrites comments: all equally ridiculous. Despising a banned doper is neither indicative of hate nor of hypocrisy.
Hello Christiane Ayotte. Welcome to the chat. Why are you out to get US athletes?
Hi Sweet Shelby. At least you didn't repeat your lie about the PK test. Thank you for that. Otherwise I might start to become anti-American, sooner or later.
Hi Sweet Shelby. At least you didn't repeat your lie about the PK test. Thank you for that. Otherwise I might start to become anti-American, sooner or later.
Christiane, you didn't answer my question. Why are you out to get US athletes? You provided false testimony against Jarrion Lawson. Why did you provide false testimony? Why should anyone believe anything you have to say after you provided false testimony?
The calendar just turned to Monday, January 13th, 2025.
Shelby Houlihan is now a free woman.
Whether justice was served, or an injustice committed, the ankle shackles are now off.
Some of you have no clue what slavery was like, and to talk about Shelby as if she were just released from a plantation shows how utterly clueless and insensitive you are. Shelby has been free her entire life.
People are allowed to make jokes or be glib, despite the instance of you and people like you.
Another bit of this puzzle that I'm curious to see play out is her shoe choice. She has been on a few podcasts in 2023/2024 and every time she talks about being against super shoes and super spikes, even calling them gray area ironically enough. She believes in the athlete doing the performance, not the shoes. She has stockpiled 2012 victories.
Got me thinking that even when you watch back most of her best races from 2019-2021, she is wearing "old" spikes even for that time and she's lined up against everyone in what we now know as prototype dragonflies and vics, later the released models obviously. She wears she will try them in training but is doubtful she'll race in them.
Imagine a scenario where come USA's in August and she rips by everyone in the dragonfly 2 elite and victories and prototypes in a shoe that is 12 years old. Can't tell if this would be good optically, or bad.
Hi Sweet Shelby. At least you didn't repeat your lie about the PK test. Thank you for that. Otherwise I might start to become anti-American, sooner or later.
Christiane, you didn't answer my question. Why are you out to get US athletes? You provided false testimony against Jarrion Lawson. Why did you provide false testimony? Why should anyone believe anything you have to say after you provided false testimony?
Nobody provided false testimony. Try to substantiate your outrageous claim with direct quotes please, not with letsrun propaganda. Wait, clearly you cannot.
This message board is full of hypocrites: They hate Shelby with a passion while looking the other way as runners who are way more sus than Shelby ever was do incredibly sus things.
What is more "sus" than literally turning up with banned drugs in your urine?
New insta just dropped blaming the “system” for banning her saying “athletes suffer”. She’s going to continue that narrative with no pushback just watch.
Some of you have no clue what slavery was like, and to talk about Shelby as if she were just released from a plantation shows how utterly clueless and insensitive you are. Shelby has been free her entire life.
People are allowed to make jokes or be glib, despite the instance of you and people like you.
Yes, ignorant people are allowed to act that way. Likewise, intelligent people are allowed to educate them.
As someone whose family members were literally emancipated from slavery not so many generations ago, I found this thread title to be disgustingly ignorant. I think that only an utter imbecile would write such a thing.
Just for perspective, I knew she was doping after her insane last 100m in the 2018 U.S. champs. The doping test was superfluous in that sense. It was obvious. No woman can sprint like she did at the very end of her races. The acceleration was unreal.
zxcvzxcv #21 6 years ago 07/05/2018 3:27pm EDT re: Scorpion_runner ReplyBack To Index Like I said after US championships, that kick is nothing that has been seen in the women's 1500m before. How she got to that point I do not know but I can guess. She's clearly going to smash the American record with good pacing this season.
zcxvzxcv #23 6 years ago 07/05/2018 3:28pm EDT re: zxcvzxcv ReplyBack To Index The power burst that Houlihan is doing in the last 100m reminds me of Alan Webb. You don't see that in women's races.
If the sombrero on her Instagram is a veiled reference to enjoying Mexican food, we know she's remorseless.
It is amusing, since the burrito would have nothing to do with her suspension experience, but for her denial and lies. And now she has made it part of her narrative for life.
'Quick, what do you eat that this could possible be blamed on?'
Another bit of this puzzle that I'm curious to see play out is her shoe choice. She has been on a few podcasts in 2023/2024 and every time she talks about being against super shoes and super spikes, even calling them gray area ironically enough. She believes in the athlete doing the performance, not the shoes. She has stockpiled 2012 victories.
Got me thinking that even when you watch back most of her best races from 2019-2021, she is wearing "old" spikes even for that time and she's lined up against everyone in what we now know as prototype dragonflies and vics, later the released models obviously. She wears she will try them in training but is doubtful she'll race in them.
She will race in the them.
Lots of runners said they wouldn't switch to supershoes ... back in 2019/2020, the last season she raced.
All of them changed their mind pretty fast.
She will, too.
We are talking about someone who literally ingested banned drugs for an advantage. You think she won't choose the best shoes available to her?
This message board is full of hypocrites: They hate Shelby with a passion while looking the other way as runners who are way more sus than Shelby ever was do incredibly sus things.
What is more "sus" than literally turning up with banned drugs in your urine?
Whatever it was we witnessed with the Olympic medalists in the women's 1500 final.
The system lacks accountability (how? why? what examples?)
The athletes suffer (what other athletes apart from you?)
and then a very curious part of her post: "I had to serve consequences for actions that I never chose to make."
I find that wording awkward. You never chose to make? Actions that you never made, I think, would be the wording, if you are innocent.
"Chose to make", could be nitpicky, but I think it's protecting herself from a bit of liability. I think what happened is that she didn't choose to ingest nandrolone, because she didn't know the name of the substance she was ingesting, but she ingested something.