Shelby Houlihan finishes fourth in return to big-time after infamous four-year 'Burrito Ban'

TOKYO (AP) — American distance runner Shelby Houlihan knows some people will see her fourth-place finish at the world championships in the first big-time race since her “Burrito Ban” and wonder if it's legit.

She doesn't much care about them.

“I surround myself with people who love me and support me, and that's way louder than anything the haters would say," Houlihan said. “It’s nice to stick it to them every once in a while.”

The 32-year-old Houlihan, who missed four years and two Olympics as the result of a much-debated ban for what she said was eating a drug-tainted burrito, finished one spot out of the medals Saturday in the 5,000 meters, one of the most-stacked races on the program.

She ran in the front for most of the first 12 laps of the 12.5-lap race — not the game plan she came in with, but something she said just felt right with nobody moving to set the pace.

She finished in 14 minutes, 57.2 seconds — exactly 2 seconds from winning a medal.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet added the 5,000 to her 10,000 crown, holding off 1,500 champion Faith Kipyegon down the stretch.

Houlihan's fourth place matched the same result she got in her last outdoor major before the ban. That was in the 1,500 at worlds in 2019 in Doha, Qatar.

“I think there’s a lot of emotion,” she said. “How that played out, that was everything I had, and I’m very proud of that.”

Houlihan, the 2025 American champion at 5,000 meters and still considered one of the country's best runners, said this is the start of a new chapter for a career that got waylaid by her now-famous doping ban that revolved around a complex contamination case.

It divided both her sport and the anti-doping world; she's well aware the result in her return will raise eyebrows both from those who believe her and doubt her.

But, she said, the time for explaining or defending herself has long passed.

“If I had proof that I didn't (cheat) I wouldn't have served a four-year ban,” she said. “It's unfortunate that I couldn't prove it, but it doesn't change the fact that I didn't intentionally cheat, and that's not something I would do or ever did.”

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United States' Shelby Houlihan reacts after competing in women's 5,000 meters heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Ethiopia's Fantaye Belayneh, United States' Shelby Houlihan, Italy's Nadia Battocletti, United States' Josette Andrews and other athletes compete in the women's 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Italy's Nadia Battocletti, bronze, Kenya's Beatrice Chebet, gold, embrace as United States' Shelby Houlihan walks past after the women's 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

United States' Shelby Houlihan competes in the women's 5,000 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

PHOENIX (AP) — The ex-husband of an Ohio woman was charged with the murders of her and her husband, according to court and county records.

Michael McKee, 39, was booked Saturday and is currently being held in Illinois, according to the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office. He is alleged to have shot and killed the couple, Dr. Spencer Tepe, a 37-year-old dentist, and Monique Tepe, 39, in their Columbus home. There were no county court records in Ohio reflecting whether McKee has an attorney yet.

Dispatchers first received calls of concern, including from Spencer Tepe’s boss, when he didn’t show up for work, which the boss said was “out of character.” Columbus police discovered the Tepes on the second floor of their home on Dec. 30 with gunshot wounds when officers conducted a wellness check. Their two young children were in the home and unharmed, police said.

Police had released security footage earlier this week of a person of interest in a dark hoodie and light colored pants who was walking in an alley near the couple's home between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. — the window of time in which investigators believed they were attacked.

Official reports from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office won't be completed for several weeks, but a spokesperson said in a Tuesday email that the couple died in an “apparent homicide by gunshot wounds.”

McKee and Monique Tepe married in 2015 and filed for divorce two years later, according to records from the Franklin County Clerk of Courts. McKee's address is listed in Chicago.

Monique and Spencer Tepe married in 2020, according to the couple's obituary.

Family members described the Tepes as extraordinary people and proud parents with joy-filled lives. Monique Tepe was a caring and bubbly stay-at-home mother, and Spencer Tepe was passionate about dentistry and taking care of his family. The couple hosted many gatherings of family and friends.

McKee's next court date is set for Monday.

Flowers and other items sit on the front porch of Spencer and Monique Tepe's home in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

Flowers and other items sit on the front porch of Spencer and Monique Tepe's home in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)

This photo made from security footage shows a person of interest walking on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (Columbus Police Department via AP)

Spencer and Monique Tepe's home in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Aftoora-Orsagos)