Paula Radcliffe "may launch a legal challenge to athletics' world governing body" if the IAAF backs a proposal to erase all world records set before '05, according to Lawton & Kelner of the London DAILY MAIL. That was the year when athletes' blood and urine samples were "first stored as an anti-doping measure." The women's marathon world record-holder said that she had spoken to Jonathan Edwards and other athletes "potentially affected by the proposal from European Athletics," and said that "they would fight to protect their status as world record-holders." Asked if that could include going to court, Radcliffe said, "You would hope it doesn't come to that. You would hope the governing bodies start to listen to us and actually do their job, which is to protect clean athletes. I've spoken to Jonathan, and while it is not in our nature to cause trouble, we may have to look at all the options." Radcliffe, whose world marathon record of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 25 seconds was set in '03, made the point that "erasing some records could actually see them passed to Russian athletes now suspected of benefiting" from a national doping program. Edwards is "similarly angry." He said, "I thought my record would go some day, just not to a bunch of sports administrators" (DAILY MAIL, 5/2).
U.S. REACTION: REUTERS' Gene Cherry reported U.S. athletics officials "want to study the ramifications of a controversial European proposal that would lead to the rewriting of world records, given it would also affect those that have never failed doping tests." USA Track & Field spokesperson Jill Geer said, "Any action pertaining to records, from 'retirement' of records to changing criteria for the record books, has the potential to affect records that are clean as well as those that are tainted. There is no perfect solution, just as there is no perfect anti-doping system." The IAAF is expected to discuss the idea at its August council meeting and Geer said that "they would also talk about the proposal with their athletes and other athletics bodies" (REUTERS, 5/2).
'GREATER GOOD': The BBC reported Olympic Gold Medalist Darren Campbell said that a proposal to rewrite the majority of athletics' world records before '05 would be "for the greater good." Campbell "supported the aim of the plan" -- even though he could lose his 4x100m European record from '99. He said, "I will sacrifice whatever it takes to save the sport and give its credibility back. ... I've thought about it, put myself in their shoes of losing a record and yes, I've lost medals and you kind of go, 'OK it's for the greater good.' You have to accept it and move on" (BBC, 5/2).
