Shelby Houlihan BANNED for 4 years

Polygraphs are quack science. They are so easily manipulated to say anything you want. A Madam of the night would be able to give you more reliable information.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Nike crushes my dreams wrote:

If you are a nobody weekend warrior like me, then buying burritos from random food trucks is no big deal. If you are a world class athlete subject to regular drug testing then it is just plain stupid.

I'm a nobody and even I wouldn't eat pork from a food truck.

Right?? Exactly my thoughts.

I have always thought she was dirty specifically when she started beating jenny simpson (mostly because i was a huge jenny fan)

kinda bittersweet because she was the face of USA women’s distance at the moment but glad she got caught.

Not a Prude wrote:

o0hn2 wrote:

Yeah something is going on here, they aren't telling us something.

She likely got 4 years because the levels on her blood were so high and she made dumb excuses that wasted the judge's time.

Probably this^ If she had tested for only a low trace level then they would have trumpeted that in this press conference. The fact they said nothing about the level of Nandro detected speaks volumes. P.S. I doubt you can get "authentic" Mexican food in Portland.

Mr. Wiggins, Shelby over the last three years has been the most accomplished professional runner America has with the possible exception of Ajee Wilson.

My completely unscientific, armchair meter is this: When they cross the finish line as the winner and celebrate in whatever way they celebrate, do I feel anything, do I feel/share their excitement? While there are some runners to which that answer is a resounding 'No,' and whom I am suspicious of, I put Shelby in her own class of 1. I don't feel much when she wins, but I put a big asterisk next to that 'ruling,' and that's because I think she's just a very unique person. There's just something different about her, perhaps including the way she experiences emotions, I don't know how to really describe it. So I've always sort of given her a pass, or rather an asterisk, at least in my own scorebook.

I think her explanation sounds plausible, pending if more information comes out that addresses some of the points raised above by others, maybe most importantly, did CAS or the ruling body before it got that far make an effort to locate the source/farm that supplied the food truck; it seems plausible that could be an easy thing to do - single food truck, small operation, ? maybe sources from a single farm.

From the study:

Ingestion of non‐castrated pig offal

Notwithstanding some reports suggesting a link existing between the consumption of meat contaminated by residual hormonal treatment and potential positive tests,67,68 it is generally regarded as highly improbable since residues in meat, when measured, are very low; there is no indication that such a case happened.50,51

Maybe we need an expert on doping before we throw out her argument

“ The possibility of nandrolone-contaminated meat leading to a positive drug test presented itself as an issue at the 2000 Olympics. By 2008, researchers advised Olympians to refrain from eating “indefinable meat dishes (such as pasta filled with meat), which could be made from low-quality meat,” boar meat, and pork offal. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) issued a statement in 2011 urging athletes to use caution when consuming meat. ”

https://tht.fangraphs.com/the-strange-case-of-inadvertent-doping/

One things for sure, even if her story is true, she wouldn't have developed that otherworldly kick overnight without the burritos.

maybe im naive but wrote:

She passed a polygraph. It truly sucks for her if she is innocent of doping

Then good on the CAS for ignoring that nonsense.

When someone tries to prove their innocence by such bogus means, I doubt them more.

Les wrote:

Since Nike basically owns USATF I am wondering why they didn't use their influence to protect her? Very curious.

Testing has evolved since Ben Johnson was caught for Nandrolone 30+ years ago. The appeal must prove scientifically , the A/B test was wrong .

It would make sense that Centro is dirty too.

Team USA. Win at all costs.

Cover up Carl Lewis.

Let Gatlin run forever.

What a joke Team USA is.

If Russia can’t compete at the Olympics, USA should be banned too.

Christina Aguilera said it: DIRTY!

Nike crushes my dreams wrote:

Not a Prude wrote:

She likely got 4 years because the levels on her blood were so high and she made dumb excuses that wasted the judge's time.

Probably this^ If she had tested for only a low trace level then they would have trumpeted that in this press conference. The fact they said nothing about the level of Nandro detected speaks volumes. P.S. I doubt you can get "authentic" Mexican food in Portland.

They did say the amount. Jonathan Gault reported it as, IIRC, 5 ng/ml. have no idea if that's a lot or a little so hoping we get some actual journalism about this soon.

Bball fan wrote:

Surely there must be some way to distinguish intentional doping with this steroid from incidental consumption in contaminated meat?

Shelby was a regular at the burrito place?

Blatant aside: My browser is currently serving up ads for Chipotle. Gotta love the Internet.

Barry Badrinath wrote:

Les wrote:

Since Nike basically owns USATF I am wondering why they didn't use their influence to protect her? Very curious.

It had to have been to the point beyond what they could influence. Registered a high enough level, no proof of tainted meat, etc. Also could be a case of letting a big fish get caught so a lot of other fish can get away.

With all the other BTC athletes that pulled out of the trials today, I’m wondering if Shelby wasn’t the scapegoat for the whole group. Why her, I have no idea. And why did she (and Schumacher) think it was a good idea to lie about never having even heard of nandrolone? Do they think anyone is going to believe that?

The Dirty Duck wrote:

One things for sure, even if her story is true, she wouldn't have developed that otherworldly kick overnight without the burritos.

Pork burrito recipes will feature in Runners World next month.

another one bites the dust wrote:

Barry Badrinath wrote:

It had to have been to the point beyond what they could influence. Registered a high enough level, no proof of tainted meat, etc. Also could be a case of letting a big fish get caught so a lot of other fish can get away.

With all the other BTC athletes that pulled out of the trials today, I’m wondering if Shelby wasn’t the scapegoat for the whole group. Why her, I have no idea. And why did she (and Schumacher) think it was a good idea to lie about never having even heard of nandrolone? Do they think anyone is going to believe that?

what are you talking about? Jager was the only other BTC athlete to pull out

ConsistencyIsKing wrote:

Probably because the appeal process was playing out

But that's highly unusual. Lots of athletes appealed yet their ban was announced right away, see AIUs list of provisional suspensions and first instance decisions.