In June 2021, Shelby Houlihan’s world turned upside down. A four-year suspension. A doping ban. A fight she swore she didn’t deserve, but lost, anyway. Now, in 2025, she’s back. And in her first major championship since returning, she’s already done what she never could before winning a global medal. A silver in the 3,000m at the World Indoor Championships. The comeback has started, but it hasn’t been easy and Shelby Houlihan has let the world know!

The American record holder in the 1,500m and 5,000m had tested positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid. Her defense? A contaminated pork burrito. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport wasn’t convinced. Ban upheld. Just like that, her career disappeared. For four years, Shelby Houlihan trained in the shadows. No races. No sponsors. Just her and the clock. At first, she was angry. Who wouldn’t be? But anger only lasts so long. When it faded, fear took its place. Houlihan nearly walked away with doubts creeping in. But the fear of “what if” kept her going.

“I’m glad I didn’t [quit],” Houlihan said to Lets Run.Com. “It was not easy. I’m glad that I stuck it out. I’m proud that I did.” Now, in 2025, she’s back. And in her first major championship since returning, she’s already won a global medal. The last time she stood on a stage like this, she was America’s brightest middle-distance star. Now? A 32-year-old with no sponsor, no guarantees, but just a shot at redemption. The race was brutal. Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu took control in the final laps, pulling away to claim gold. But behind her, the fight for silver was a war.

Houlihan surged forward, closing hard. Jessica Hull of Australia was right beside her. The finish line approached. A desperate lean. The clock stopped at 8:38.26 to 8:38.28. Silver. There are those who will never accept her return. To them, she’ll always be an athlete who tested positive. But Houlihan isn’t looking for validation. She’s looking forward. “I feel like I still have more to prove,” she said. “I feel like the best is yet to come.”

A closer look at Shelby Houlihan’s comeback performance

Shelby Houlihan is back, and she’s wasting no time reminding the world just how fast she is! After serving a four-year doping ban, the American record holder in the 1500m returned to the track on February 1 at the Razorback Invitational in Arkansas. And guess what? She didn’t just show up, she blazed through the 3000m in 8:31.56! That’s the eighth-fastest time ever by an American woman indoors. Crazy, right?

She had help early on, Krissy Gear, the 2023 US steeplechase champion, paced her through steady 200-meter laps of 33 to 35 seconds. But once Gear stepped aside, Houlihan took control, subtly ramping up the pace. Then came the final lap, a sizzling 31.44 seconds, where she surged past several collegiate runners. Talk about making a statement!

And that was just the warm-up. Fast forward to the US Indoor Championships on February 22-23, and Houlihan lined up for two races in the 1500m and the 3000m. She finished fourth in the 1500m but really shined in the 3000m, grabbing second place! That performance secured her a ticket to the 2025 World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China.

Running in a plain black kit, unsponsored but undeniably determined, Houlihan admitted she felt more excitement than nerves. “Honestly, not as much nerves as I thought. I just felt ready and psyched!” she told reporters.

Fast forward to the World Indoors, and she’s now on the podium!