Controversial IAAF proposal to reset athletics world records now up for reconsideration

A proposal to reset all athletics world records set prior to 2005 caused significant controversy when it was first suggested back in May. It’s now being reconsidered.

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The idea was the work of a European Athletics taskforce exploring options for how to deal with the sport’s doping scandal and tarnished reputation. Records set prior to 2005 were specifically targeted due to the relative lack, and lack of scope, of drug testing at the time. The IAAF only began to store blood and urine samples in 2005, making the subsequent testing of all prior results impossible.

Not surprisingly though, the suggestion frustrated several prominent people in the athletics community, including marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe who called the idea “cowardly.”

The proposal was set to be discussed this week at a meeting of the IAAF before the start of the World Championships. But due to the push-back, more consultations are being done and the original idea is being reconsidered.

A modified proposal would only consider records set before 1991, the year that out of competition testing was widely adopted. Under this new condition, Radcliffe’s record set in 2003 would be safe, as would Britain’s Jonathan Edwards–the triple jump record holder from 1995–who also voiced strong opposition to the record reset.

Targets of the modified ban would include American shot put record holder Randy Barnes, American 100 and 200m sprinter Florence Gritthith Joyner and Czechoslovakian 800m runner Jarmila Kratochvilova, whose record of 1:53.28 has stood since 1983.