USA's Shannon Rowbury prays women's 1,500 final is clean
RIO DE JANEIRO — Six women who raced in the 1,500 meters during the 2012 London Games have either been suspended for doping offenses or come under investigation for using performance-enhancing drugs.
That list includes the race’s top two finishers, both of Turkey: Asli Cakir Alptekin, who won gold, is under an eight-year ban, while silver medalist Gamze Bulut has been under investigation by the International Association of Athletics Federation since the spring.
The USA’s Shannon Rowbury is as aware of this fact as any racer in the 1,500 finals at the Rio Games.
Rowbury, who advanced through the semifinals by placing second in her heat, finished fifth in the event in London. If you remove the above six runners either penalized or under suspicion, however, Rowbury would have won silver.
Asked if she thinks the women’s final here is clean, Rowbury replied, “I pray.”
“All I can do is pray and hope for the best,” she said.
Rowbury is likely the USA’s best hope for earning a spot on the medal podium. No American woman has ever medaled in the 1,500 at the Olympics.
“I wanted to qualify automatically,” she said. “It was a lot messier than the first round but I’m used to that in international competition. I’m really happy with my close and I feel good going into my final.”
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