EUGENE, Oregon — The odds of banned runner Shelby Houlihan running at U.S. Olympic trials diminished sharply late Thursday when the country’s Olympic committee said it would follow all antidoping rules and USA Track and Field received long-awaited official notice of her suspension.
The developments capped a whirlwind day that began with USATF saying it would not bar the American record-holder at 1500m and 5000m from running in Friday’s preliminary heats until she had exhausted every appeal.
USATF stood by that premise at the end of the day, as well, but said it was comfortable taking Houlihan off the start lists since it had received official word from the Athletics Integrity Unit, which conducted the test that led to the suspension, that Houlihan had been banned for four years.