World Athletics scraps landing zone idea to avoid 'all-out war' with long jump athletes

Carl Lewis called the take-off one idea an "April Fool’s joke".

The wide take-off zone was intended to reduce the number of foul jumps. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

World Athletics has scrapped controversial plans to introduce a take-off zone for the long jump rather than the traditional board because of widespread hostility from athletes, the Guardian can reveal.

Jon Ridgeon, World Athletics’ chief executive, said that while the proposals had trialled well, “ultimately you do not want to go to war with your most important group of people”.