European Athletics Endorses 'Radical' Changes to Record Book

(ATR) The track and field record books could be rewritten if European Athletics has its way.

The proposed change to the sport’s world and European record lists is an effort to rid doping-tainted performances from its past, present and future.

The European Athletics Council accepted a project team’s report calling for the changes at a meeting over the weekend in Paris, according to the organization. The report will be sent to the IAAF "with the recommendation that the two organizations coordinate the implementation of new record ratification rules."

Under the new proposal, world and European records can only be recognized if the following criteria are met: the performance is achieved at competitions on a list of approved international events where the highest standards of officiating and technical equipment can be guaranteed; the athlete has been subject to an agreed number of doping control tests in the months leading up to the performance; and the doping control sample taken after the record is stored and available for retesting for 10 years.

In addition, the European Athletics project team recommended that "record recognition be withdrawn at any time if the athlete commits a doping or integrity violation, even if it does not directly impact the record performance".

Records that are already on the books but not established in accordance with the new standards will remain on the all-time list, but recognition will be transferred to performances that meet the latest criteria.

"It’s a radical solution for sure, but those of us who love athletics are tired of the cloud of doubt and innuendo that has hung over our records for too long," said European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen after the Council meeting. "We need decisive action to restore credibility and trust."

"This will now go to the IAAF Council Meeting in August and on behalf of European Athletics I will be encouraging them to adopt this proposal," said Hansen.

IAAF president Sebastian Coe, who attended the final session of the meeting along with other European members of the IAAF Council, says he likes the plan.

"Of course, for this to be adopted for world records by the IAAF it needs global approval from all Area Associations," said Coe.

"There will be athletes, current record holders, who will feel that the history we are recalibrating will take something away from them but I think this is a step in the right direction and if organized and structured properly we have a good chance of winning back credibility in this area."

Written by Gerard Farek

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