Who is Olympic runner Shelby Houlihan and why was she banned from the sport?
AN American runner who holds the record in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters has been slapped with a four-year suspension after testing positive for steroids. Runner Shelby Houlihan learned about her suspension from the Athletics Integrity Unit after she tested positive for nandrolone. Houlihan, 28, is an American middle distance runner. The 28-year-old is a 12-time All-American at Arizona State University and was the NCC 1500 meter champion in 2014. Houlihan made the final in the 5000 meters at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She finished 11th at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in the 5,000 meters. 6 Shelby Houlihan is the American record holder at both 1500 meters and 5000 meters Credit: Sportsfile  Houlihan is the American record holder at both 1500 meters and 5000 meters. The track star's four year ban comes days before the start of the US Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. The top three in each event earn a spot to the postponed Tokyo Games. On Monday, June 14, Houlihan announced on her Instagram account that she was handed a four-year suspension from the sport after testing positive for nandrolone. Nandrolone is a synthetic, anabolic steroid analog of testosterone, according to the National Institutes of Health. The NIH states nandrolone can be used for testosterone replacement therapy to increase nitrogen retention and fat-free muscle mass. However, Houlihan claims that she had never even heard of nandrolone and blames a contaminated pork burrito she ate 10 hours before the positive test in January. 6 Houlihan said she received news of her positive test for nandrolone on January 14 Credit: AFP  Houlihan insisted that ingesting the anabolic steroid must have inadvertently come from eating a burrito from an authentic Mexican food truck that serves pig offal near my house in Beaverton, Oregon 10 hours before a 6am drugs test last December. "On January 14th, 2021, I received an email from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), informing me a drug testing sample that I provided on December 15th, 2020 has returned as an Adverse Analytical Finding for an anabolic steroid called Nandrolone and that I am therefore subject to an immediate Provisional Suspension. "When I got that email, I had to read it over about ten times and google what it was that I had just tested positive for. I had never even heard of nandrolone," the track star said in her Instagram post. She continued: "I have since learned that it has long been understood by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) that eating pork can lead to a false positive for nandrolone, since certain types of pigs produce it naturally in high amounts. "Pig organ meat (offal) has the highest levels of nandrolone. In the following 5 days after being notified, I put together a food log of everything that I consumed the week of that December 15th test. 6 Houlihan blames a contaminated pork burrito she ate 10 hours before the positive test in January Credit: AP  "We concluded that the most likely explanation was a burrito purchased and consumed approximately 10 hours before that drug test from an authentic Mexican food truck that serves pig offal near my house in Beaverton, Oregon." Houlihan said she received the news that the Court of Arbitration rejected her explanation and that the four-year ban will stay. "I feel completely devastated, lost, broken, angry, confused and betrayed by the very sport that Ive loved and poured myself into just to see how good I was," the 28-year-old said. "I want to be very clear. I have never taken any performance enhancing substances. And that includes that of which I am being accused. "I believe in the sport and pushing your body to the limit just to see where the limit is. Im not interested in cheating. 6 After appealing her suspension, the Court of Arbitration for Sports rejected her claims and said the suspension will stand Credit: Getty  "I dont do this for the accolades, money, or for people to know my name. I do this because I love it. I have so much fun doing it and its always the best part of my day." The Court of Arbitration for Sport is expected to release its full reasoning in the coming days, but Houlihans lawyer Paul Greene said an appeal to the Swiss federal tribunal was being considered. Houlihans coach, Jerry Schumacher, also spoke out against the verdict. What we are witnessing here is a great tragedy in the history of American distance running, he said. To the AIU and Wada: Shame on you. Shame on you for not caring about the truth. Shame on you for using athletes in a political chess match. 6 Shelby Houlihans four-year suspension means she will miss the Tokyo Olympics Credit: Getty  Most read in Sport Live Blog ERIKSEN UPDATES Eriksen gives thumbs up in first pic, Schmeichel speaks on Uefa's handling CIVIL RIGHTS ICON The reason Atlanta Hawks have MLK on their jerseys ALL-STAR JAILED What to know about ex-WNBA player Shoni Schimmel arrest Pictured WANDA ON TAP PSG star Icardi's wife Wanda Nara stuns fans by stripping off in bathroom MAKE JOE MISTAKE WWE to re-hire Samoa Joe for NXT with Triple H fearing he will join AEW FIZZY RASCAL Watch Ronaldo remove Coke bottles at press conference and shout 'drink water'  "You got it very wrong this time and that is not OK. Its not OK to be right nine out of 10 times when deciding to execute someones athletic life and dreams.  However, Brett Clothier, the head of the AIU, said that Houlihans case had been decided on its merits by an independent panel. After being charged by the AIU, Ms Houlihans case was heard by a three-member panel at Cas, which made its decision after hearing evidence and arguments from the athletes lawyers and the AIU, he said.