Is Shelby being held to a double standard by sponsors?

US is sympathetic to blacks.

I think her decision to fight the ban, legally but especially publically, is the reason she is unable to get a sponsor. Perhaps it is a double standard, but her reputation is still associated with the burrito excuse. If she quietly took the ban and returned 3-4 years later, I’m sure she would’ve had a sponsor by now.

Coleman "only" had a missed test, in contrast to Houlihan's hard core steroid doping.

Gatlin had to wait years to get sponsored again - Houlihan is just back for a year.

Knighton hasn't returned yet.

Gay never got sponsored by a shoe company again.

Yes, 100%.

Three things:

1) Shelburrito not as good as the likes of Gay or Gatlin. Gatlin is an Olympic champion in the premier event of the sport. houlihan has never made a major outdoor podium and is only relevant in a far less popular event - the 5000.

2) She is the wrong side of 30. Harder for anyone to get a good contract at that point. If she were finishing a ban at 26 or 27, you could argue that she still had a good shot at hitting new PBs. At 32? Likely not.

3) those athletes you mentioned generally said "yeah I didn't cheat but can't prove it, that sucks, see you in four years I guess." Houlihan said there was an AIU conspiracy against her and that it was a slam dunk that her pork burrito was contaminated but that she also ordered a carne asada burrito, then made a go fund me, then tried to compete at US trials while banned. Then she backtracked saying it probably wasn't a burrito and had that whole mess where she was still training with BTC while banned. Then she called for strict liability to end which would basically kill global anti doping efforts.

She constantly put herself in the spotlight again and again reminding people how stupid her arguments were and how often she changed them. If she had just led with her now current argument "I don't know what happened" and said "i'm clean, I care about clean sport so ultimately have to take responsibility for what I put into my body, I'm sorry to my fans. I'll come back stronger." If she did that instead of putting the US track community through her ridiculous circus act then burritos and authentic mexican taco trucks, wouldn't be memes in the track world.

Come on Shelby just won a local trail race in a state I can't remember.

“I don't know what happened" and said "i'm clean, I care about clean sport so ultimately have to take responsibility for what I put into my body, I'm sorry to my fans. I'll come back stronger.”

I don’t think it would be so easy. Many people would think she was lying through her teeth and being so passive about it would make people think she really did cheat.

I think that was an excellent take from "maybe if...".

It also appears that she is now trying this "I don't know what happened" shtick after literally everyone including Tygart and Tucker ruled out the burrito. Of course now it's too late to be believable (if it ever was).

Sadly she was poorly advised by that slimy lawyer who only saw $$$.

I believe Shelby probably did dope. I also believe dopers should receive lifetime bans. However, despite trying to fight her ban, Shelby did serve the ban that the current rules administered to her.

As long as she is still being tested and competing in the same fair way we assume everyone else is, I don’t have a problem with her being in the sport. As a consumer, I have no problem if Nike or another sponsor decided to give her a deal. In fact, recognizing she is among the best American athletes, I want her to be able to finish her career with all the advantages everyone else gets. I honestly am hoping someone gives her a deal.

I still believe her doping is wrong and abhorrent. But she took the ban, and the rules tell us she is the same as any other athlete.

She's simply not a winner like the others you name. Shoe companies will overlook a lot if you're bringing home medals (medals that count, not indoor medals). If you're not a winner, then you need something else of value to the brand and what else does Houlihan bring? Just baggage. If you're a shoe exec, What's the compelling reason to give Houlihan a contract? She won't win a global medal, she's on the downswing of her career, she's served a drug ban, and she doesn't have a big fan base. What do you get in return for giving her even $50k a year? It's harsh, but that's the business logic. Shoe companies need winners and squeaky clean brand ambassadors, that's it. Houlihan doesn't fit into either of those camps.

10 years or more ago when most of those names were in their prime there was a lot less wokeness and cancel culture ideology.

but also, like the galen rupp post yesterday, you most likely only know who this person is because she's of the same nationality as you. what of note has she ever won, except american only races? 1 world silver in a 3000m race, that's it? (thanks wiki)

most people have heard of Gay, Coleman and Gatlin, because they are actual world class runners who regularly won on the international stage. and so they were more attractive for a brand.

americans on this forum need to get out more.

Apparently, LRC frowns on suggesting potential sponsors for pro runners.

I remember Tyson Gay because Focus on the Family changed his name to Tyson H-sexual.

latimes.com

Gay becomes Homosexual

A conservative group's Internet filter leads to the changing of an athlete's last name.

Open link

American Family Association.

Yeah, I actually think that her constantly going to the media to repeat the burrito lie hurt her.

In the end, people don't like being lied to and they felt like she was lying to everyone.

Also, Shelby wants to train with a group. That might be the biggest issue, other runners may not want her there.

No, she’s a convicted drug cheat. No company will touch her. That’s it.

Is she really going to help a company sell several times the product they would invest in her? I doubt it. But I could say that about many pros.

If Shelby actually came out and said something along the lines of "Yes I doped. I am deeply sorry for this and will serve my time with dignity." and then just shut up for the duration of the ban she might, maybe have got sponsored. But instead she publicly humiliated herself for years rambling on about burritos (as did a few journalists, but we won't go there today).

Let's also be serious, as others have said, she's just not that good. Certainly not as good as the other sprinters you've listed who got second chances. Moreover, she's hardly going to get any better not that she's off the juice, older and hasn't competed for years.