A schedule including women's heptathlon events kicks off the first day of Olympic athletics on Aug. 14. (Getty Images)IAAF Cancellation
At its meeting in Beijing, the IAAF cancelled the world record for the men’s 4 x 400-meter relay, set by a U.S. team that included confessed drug cheat Antonio Pettigrew. The former record of 2 minutes, 54.20 seconds was set in 1998 by Jerome Young, Pettigrew, Tyree Washington and Michael Johnson in
Uniondale, N.Y. The new record is 2:54.29 set by a U.S. team that included Andrew Valmon, Quincy Watts, Harry “Butch” Reynolds and Johnson at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart.
“The IAAF will continue to fight doping with total determination,” IAAF President Lamine Diack said. “Whether it is by educational measures, improved testing methods, or tougher rules and sanctions, the IAAF is sending a clear message that we will not tolerate doping in athletics.”
A final decision about erasing Pettigrew’s other results, dating back to Jan. 1, 1997, comes at a future IAAF Council meeting.
Russian Anti-Doping Case
In the wake of the provisional suspension of seven Russian female athletes, the president of the All Russian Athletics Federation, Valentin Balakhnichev, said that the Russian authorities are considering introducing new criminal laws related to doping. He also hoped the independent Russian
anti-doping agency, which began in the spring of 2008, will make a big impact.
The Council approved amendments to the Procedural Guidelines for Doping Control relating to therapeutic use exemptions and athlete whereabouts for out of competition testing so as to bring the IAAF in conformity with the new WADA code.
Future IAAF World Athletics Tour Project
The IAAF Council approved in principle a proposal for a new IAAF World Athletics Tour after 2009, which will try to build the global potential of athletics. The concept will allow the IAAF to take greater control of the sport by contracting top athletes to ensure more regular competition between them and will create a centralized marketing program. The next step is seeking major external investors.
Written by ATR Staff in Beijing
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