Revising the record books in athletics ‘nothing personal’

Irish physical therapist Gerard Hartmann has urged Paula Radcliffe, the women’s marathon world record holder, to embrace plans to rewrite the record books in athletics after the Briton said the plans were “cowardly” and an insult to the dignity of clean athletes.

Under proposals put forward by European Athletics this week, all marks set before 2005 would be wiped from the books, regardless of the athlete involved, in a bid to eliminate any doping doubts surrounding past performances. This would mean Radcliffe’s mark of 2:15:25, set in 2003, would no longer be recognised as the world record.

“Paula has got to stomach up and realise how important this is for the sport,” said Hartmann, her long-time physical therapist. “If she’s true to the sport she loves, she’s got to take a stance as well and realise this is not personal. This is completely, once and for all, a move to clean up the sport.”