But the Athlete Integrity Unit, the agency overseeing anti-doping for international track and field, formally notified USATF of Houlihan’s suspension later Thursday. After discussions between AIU and World Athletics, the sport’s global governing body, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic and USATF and a series of terse statements from AIU, World Athletics, CAS and the World Anti-Doping Agency, Houlihan was withdrawn from the Trials late Thursday.
“The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, together with USATF, can confirm that we will adhere to the WADA Code and any CAS decisions that govern athlete participation in sanctioned events,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement.
On Instagram Friday, Houlihan wrote, “I want to be clear that, contrary to media reports, I never had any intention of competing if this injunction wasn’t granted. If I was going to race, it was going to be in the right way. [...]