What does it say about today’s athletes that the men’s triple jump record hasn’t been broken since 1995, the long jump since 1991 and the discus since 1986? Or that the women’s long jump record still stands from 1988 and the 800 metres since 1983? Does it say that athletes all used to be a bunch of doped-up cheats which today’s squeaky clean competitors can’t possibly be expected to beat without steroids and a few other goodies from the medicine cupboard? Or does it just say that the people currently competing in these disciplines aren’t quite as good as a few exceptional athletes in the past?
European Athletics, the governing body in this part of the world, has pretty well decided that it is the former – athletes of the past can’t be trusted. It has proposed to wipe the slate clean, so that no record set prior to 2005 – the year when blood and urine samples were first retained after being tested — would be recognised.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in