World Records that were created before 2005 could be wiped away in a radical idea from the European Athletics.
The move would mean that the likes of Florence Griffith-Joyner's records for the 100 and 200 metres could be removed from the record books. British athletes like Paula Radcliffe (Marathon) and Jonathan Edwards (Triple Jump) are also in danger of having their records stripped off them.
According to European Athletics, the new records will have to meet a list of criteria, if they qualify as World Records. Among the criteria are if the athlete has "been subject to an agreed number of doping control tests in the months leading up to the performance". Their doping control sample taken after the record in question must also be "stored and available for re-testing for 10 years."
Some thoughts on the EAA decision today. pic.twitter.com/xpee4luvSp
— Paula Radcliffe (@paulajradcliffe) May 1, 2017
All the records will remain on the all-time list, but the title of "World Record" will be given to the performances that meet the criteria, if the IAAF accept the recommendations.
If the records are removed of their title, "no immediate successor should be ratified but rather a limit should be set for a new record to be established at a future date", the report claims.
You can read the report in full here.
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