A number of current track and field world record holders are angry with proposals which would mean their times and distances would no longer be recognised.
Under a proposal from European Athletics, records would only be recognised if they meet a strict set of criteria. One of these is that the doping control sample taken after the setting of the record is available for re-testing for 10 years. Since the IAAF only began storing blood and urine samples in 2005, it means records set before then would no longer be officially recognised.
Mike Powell's long jump world record of 8.95m, set at the 1991 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, is one of those which would be affected.
Speaking to BBC 5 Live, Powell said it would be 'wrong' for his record to be erased.
I've already contacted my attorney. There are some records out there that are kind of questionable, I can see that, but mine is the real deal. It's a story of human heart and guts, one of the greatest moments in the sport's history.
They would be destroying so many things with this decision, without thinking about it. It's wrong. Regardless of what happens, I am going to fight.
Paula Radcliffe's 2003 marathon world record could also be erased. Following the announcement of the proposal, Radcliffe posted some thoughts regarding it to Twitter.
The English runner called the proposals 'cowardly'.
1. I worked extremely hard for my PBs and they will always be valid to me. I know they were set through hard work and best effort and abiding by all the rules and am proud of them.
2. Governing bodies have a duty to protect every clean athlete, here they again fail those athletes. We had to compete against cheats, they couldn't provide us a level playing field, we lost out on medals, moments and earnings due to cheats, saw our sport dragged through the mud due to cheats and now, thanks to those who chose to cheat we potentially lose our World and Area records.
3. Although we are moving forward I don't believe we are yet at the point where we have a testing procedure capable of catching every cheat out there, so why reset at this point? Do we really believe a record set in 2015 is totally clean and one in 1995 not?
4. I am hurt and do feel this damages my reputation and dignity. It is a heavy handed way to wipe out some really suspicious records in a cowardly way by simply sweeping all aside instead of having the guts to take the legal plunge and wipe any record that would be found in a court of law to have been illegally assisted.
5. It is confusing to the public at a time when athletics is already struggling to market itself. How do they explain how stadium, club and national records are better than the Area and World marks or will they force all those to be wiped too?
Jonathan Edwards, whose triple jump world record of 18.29m was set in 1995, also called the proposal cowardly.
I wish they had the courage of their convictions. If there are records that are unbelievable and suspicious, go for those. I thought my record would go some day, just not to a bunch of sports administrators. It seems incredibly wrong-headed and cowardly. And I don’t think it achieves what they want it to. Instead it cast doubts on generations of athletics performances.
