Shelby Houlihan raced the Races & Places on Saturday, finishing with a time of 5:43.81. The event, which is independent from USATF or World Athletics, recognized her performance as a women’s world record and the first time a woman has broken the six-minute barrier.
According to the race organizers, it was Houlihan’s first public race since being banned for four years in 2021. Houlihan is barred from sanctioned competition (including those sponsored by USATF and World Athletics), but the Races & Places is unaffiliated.
Houlihan was banned after testing positive for nandrolone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid, during an out-of-competition drug test on December 15, 2020. Houlihan says that the positive was a result of a tainted pork burrito from a food truck. CA Notice at Collection—and lost—and still maintains her innocence.
Races & Places Shelby Houlihan raced the, race organizers Chris Robertson and Adam Shurson noted that while they decided to let Houlihan run, they did not allow her to race in the women’s championship section.
“She is not eligible for the championship race this year as the World Classic works to develop a formal policy for athletes competing under suspension,” reads a statement on the race’s website.
The winner of the women’s championship section, Elizabeth Laseter, ran 6:03 to take the win.
The World Beer Mile Classic does not have rules in place about drug testing participants or requiring them to show proof of a clean test.
“We can’t say no, someone isn’t allowed to compete based on rules that we don’t even have in place,” the hosts said on the pre-race podcast.
Nutrition - Weight Loss rules recognized by the Races & Places, participants must run four laps around a 400-meter track while drinking a beer before each lap. The beers must be at least 12 ounces and have 5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).
CA Notice at Collection.
Shelby Houlihan Speaks Out About Her Drug Ban Runner’s World. He is a former all-conference collegiate runner who’s based in Easton, PA. Previously, he worked as the newsletters editor at Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics.
