Wanjiru world record confirmed

Sammy Wanjiru has had his world half-marathon time of 58 minutes 33 seconds set in The Hague on March 17 confirmed as a world record.

But the 20-year-old Kenyan, who five weeks earlier set the previous best of 58mins 53secs in Ras Al Khaimah, has had that achievement turned down.

The International Association of Athletics Federations rejected Wanjiru’s time there, because he did not undertake a mandatory EPO test.

The previous world record belonged to Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia who ran 58:55 in Phoenix, USA, on January 15, 2006.

Wanjiru is set to make his debut on British soil at the BUPA Great North Run from Newcastle to South Shields on September 30.