The sky was the limit for Shelby Houlihan when she broke the 1500m American record in 2019. However, little did the track and field know that it would come crashing down in 2020 after failing a d— test. The results showed the middle-distance running phenom had the banned substance nandrolone in her system. The serious offense earned her a four-year ban.

While Houlihan claimed that a tainted pork burrito was the culprit behind her downfall, it didn’t affect her suspension. The resulting ban came into effect for the 5000m American record-holder on June 9, 2021. Hence, Houlihan couldn’t participate in the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and had to sit out the 2024 Paris Summer Games. However, the 31-year-old’s exile from the sport is almost over, yet her concerns are not over.

“Her ban lifts on January 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.,” Runners World revealed on Instagram. Yet, thanks to a special suspension clause, the athlete has the permission to train for her return to competitive track and field. “The terms of the suspension say that she is permitted to start working out with other runners two months before the racing ban ends,” explained Runner World.

“She is allowed to train with other pros,” they added in the caption. The 13-time U.S. National Champion is currently based in  Beaverton, Oregon, and has been training on her own. While the ban prevented participating in official events, it didn’t restrict the Olympian from running. Runners World revealed that Shelby Houlihan runs “about 80 to 85 miles per week.”

However, not everything is in place for the 31-year-old to make her track and field return. The Beer Mile world record holder has hired Paul Doyle as her agent before her imminent return. Doyle has been tasked with securing a training group that Houlihan can join and more importantly, sponsors. However, finding sponsors after a ban might be challenging, and the latest chapter in Houlihan’s four-year battle.

How the track and field star has repeatedly professed her innocence

While the middle-distance runner has hesitated to speak up for fear of upsetting the Athletics Integrity Unit, she hasn’t remained silent for four years. Shelby Houlihan and her family faced immense backlash after the ban and the runner responded in 2022. “This is so out of line with something that I would do,” Houlihan told The Running Effect.

“This does not reflect who I am in any capacity, yet people feel like they have the right to speak on who I am and my character when they’ve never even had a conversation with me. I feel like my character has to count for something so it’s frustrating that it doesn’t feel like it does.” the track and field star added. The athlete’s coach Jerry Schmaucher also backed up his pupil.

“She just might be the best 1500m runner in the world this year, but we will never get the opportunity to find out. And that’s a tragedy.” said her coach. Missing two Olympic Games consecutively alongside multiple World Championships during her prime has undoubtedly hurt the 31-year-old’s career. However, she is ready to chase records again.

“I want to go after as many records as I can,” the American record holder said in September. This time the track and field star is open to everything, from running marathons to indoor races and testing her capabilities on the competitive stage after nearly half a decade of inactivity.