UK Athletics "called for world records to be wiped clean and drug cheats to be banned for at least eight years in radical proposals aimed at heralding a new unblemished era for the sport," according to Mike Collett of REUTERS.
UKA's document "A Manifesto for Clean Athletics" was published on Monday, three days before the World Anti-Doping Agency is due to reveal the second half of its independent report into widespread doping in the sport.
UKA "made nine key recommendations, including resetting the record books and banning drug cheats for two Olympic cycles." It also "proposed publishing a public global register of drug tests, the criminalisation of the supply or procurement of performance-enhancing drugs and calling for WADA to keep a register of all missed tests."
Athletics, the showpiece sport of the Olympic Games, "experienced a traumatic year in 2015 with life bans for officials following allegations of doping, cover-ups, bribery and corruption" (REUTERS, 1/11). The BBC reported UKA Chair Ed Warner said it was time for "radical reform," adding, "The integrity of athletics was challenged as never before in 2015."
The IAAF, which governs world athletics, said that "it welcomed UKA's contribution and would review its ideas." Warner said trust in the sport is at its "lowest point for decades," adding clean athletes and fans "have been let down." Warner: "Greater transparency, tougher sanctions, longer bans -- and even resetting the clock on world records for a new era -- we should be open to do whatever it takes to restore credibility in the sport." Some of the key recommendations:
- WADA "should maintain a public global register of all drugs tests"
- If not, UK Anti-Doping and UK sport "should take the lead" by forming a British register
- The idea of a register of missed tests "should also be investigated"
- Change the three strikes system "so that missing three tests over a longer period of time -- currently 18 months -- can lead to a ban"
- Clean athletes "to be compensated for loss of prize money by federations when drug cheats are banned and results annulled"
- The IAAF "should look into drawing a line under all pre-existing world records and starting again"
- Minimum of eight-year bans for drug cheats "so they miss two Olympic or Paralympic cycles, plus lifetime bans where appropriate"
- Criminalize "supply or procurement of performance-enhancing drugs"
- Rename all anti-doping agencies "under one umbrella." For example, UKAD "would become Clean Sport UK" (BBC, 1/11).
RADCLIFFE REJECTS PROPOSAL: In London, Sean Ingle wrote Paula Radcliffe "has hit out at a proposal to expunge all track and field world records from the books because she believes innocent athletes like herself will unfairly suffer." Radcliffe, whose world marathon record of 2 hrs 15 mins 25 secs has stood since '03, said, "Without doubt you are going to punish innocent athletes, so why do it again when they have already had to compete against cheats during their career? I feel that innocent athletes have suffered enough at the hands of drugs cheats." Radcliffe, one of three British outdoor and indoor world record holders along with Colin Jackson and Jonathan Edwards, added, "I’ll never agree with the records being wiped because I know 100 percent that at least one of those records was achieved clean and that means more were too."
Instead "she believes a better and fairer idea is for all confirmed dopers to lose their previous records." Warner said that he "welcomed Radcliffe’s criticisms." Warner: "I am delighted she disagrees strongly, because what we are trying to do here is provoke some debate. We are trying to find a cattle prod to the IAAF to find ways to create a better sport" (
GUARDIAN, 1/11).
