Paula Radcliffe and Jonathan Edwards will have their names "wiped from the history books" if the IAAF accepts a “radical” new proposal to scrap athletics’ longstanding world and European records, according to the LONDON TIMES. Under the proposals, a sample taken from an athlete after they break a major record "must remain available for retesting." The IAAF has been storing blood and urine samples since '05, meaning Radcliffe’s marathon world record, set in '03, Edwards’ triple jump mark, set in '95, and Colin Jackson’s indoor 60m hurdles world record of 7.35 seconds, set in '94, "would no longer be officially recognised." European Athletics announced that its ruling council "accepted a project team’s recommendations to overhaul the record lists in an attempt to eliminate any doping doubts surrounding performances." The European body said that it would now forward them to the IAAF “with the recommendation that the two organisations coordinate the implementation of new record ratification rules.” The new proposal “calls for higher technical standards, increased doping control measures and new personal integrity requirements for record holders,” the European governing body said. The idea is to make record-breaking performances "as credible as possible, at a time of scepticism" (LONDON TIMES, 5/1). In London, Sean Ingle reported the proposal would also mean that "historical world records," including Mike Powell’s world long jump of 8.95m, from '91, and Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1,500m time of 3 minutes, 26 seconds, from '98, would be "stripped from the books." European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen said, "What we are proposing is revolutionary, not just because most world and European records will have to be replaced but because we want to change the concept of a record and raise the standards for recognition to a point where everyone can be confident that everything is fair and above board." The IAAF is "expected to approve" the proposal in July and it is likely to come into effect within 12 months. Coe said, "I like this because it underlines that we have put into place doping control systems and technology that are more robust and safer than 15 or even 10 years ago. There will be athletes, current record holders, who will feel that the history we are recalibrating will take something away from them but I think this is a step in the right direction" (GUARDIAN, 5/1).
NEW REQUIREMENTS: The BBC reported if the proposals are accepted by the IAAF, a world record would only be recognized if:
- It was achieved at a competition on a list of approved int'l events "where the highest standards of officiating and technical equipment can be guaranteed."
- The athlete had been "subject to an agreed number of doping controls tests in the months leading up to it."
- The doping control sample taken after the record was "stored and available for re-testing for 10 years."
The council also recommended that a performance should be wiped from record books if the athlete had committed a "doping or integrity violation, even if it does not directly impact the record performance" (
BBC, 5/1).
