IAU to drop 6-day as a recognized discipline

On Sept. 19, the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) published updated world record guidelines, and the new rules have caused an uproar in the multi-day community. According to guidelines, as of Jan. 1 2022, all 1,000 km, 1,000 mile, and 6 Day events will no longer be ratified by the IAU for world records.

Cool- @iaunews World Bests are now recognized as 'World Records'. They added 50 Miles, took off 1000K/6 days/1000 miles, and now have required drug testing for all World Records. 50K was added as a @WorldAthletics World Record (mixed & women's only).https://t.co/nP3XxaAPUy

— Camille Herron (@runcamille) October 4, 2021

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Distances that are still eligible for world records include 50 miles, 100 miles, six hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours. 100 km and 50 km distances will also be eligible for world records, making the IAU the first governing body to manage world records for the 50 km distance. In order to be considered for an International Association of Ultrarunners World Record (IAU WR) or a World Athletics World Record (WA WR), all athletes must have evidence of a negative doping test that follows current World Anti Doping Agency and WA rules, and there must be at least three athletes of the same gender as the potential record holder in the race.

Additionally, for an IAU WR to be valid, it must take place at an event that uses World Athletics (WA) regulations and has been given an IAU label. For road ultras, the distance must also be measured using WA and IAU standards, and course certifications that are five years old or older are not eligible for world records.

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According to Viktoria Brown, the 48-hour and 72-hour Canadian record-holder, the news has come as a shock to the multi-day community, so much so that they decided to create their own organization, called the World Multi-Day Organization, to keep track of multi-day records that will no longer be ratified by the IAU. It was founded by Canadian ultrarunner Trishul Cherns, who still holds several Canadian multi-day records.

You can read the entire document outlining the new IAU guidelines here.