Nonetheless, he told Japan's Kyodo News: "I really want to compete in the event".
She did compete in the event, however, and finished 33rd, six laps in arrears.
This year, an estimated 4,000 women are expected to compete in the event.
Butyrskaya went on to compete in the event, but blamed the incident for her poor performance.
Nine boys and nine girls will compete in the event, by invitation only.
That same year Ireland sent a turkey puppet to compete in the event.
Sports writer David Epstein insists there is "no good physical reason" why women cannot compete in the event at the Olympics.
Even after qualifying for the Olympics, bobsledders are mandated to make two safe runs down the course during training sessions in order to compete in the event.
And even though Fairbanks was never allowed to compete in the event, African-Americans may play a prominent role in the national championships this week in Boston.
The event has been in the Winter Olympics since 1924, but this year women will compete in the event for the first time.
He had run the 100 meters only four times as a professional and was not yet sure he would compete in the event at the Beijing Olympics.
