Vote: Should we scrap every world record and start again?

Video: Griffith-Joyner breaks the 100m world record

Owen Slot argues in today's The Times that it is exceedingly likely Christine Arron, a French sprinter of particular elegance, is the fastest woman of all time.

Slot makes a compelling case that the untimely death of Florence Griffith-Joyner, who still holds the women's 100m world record, in 1998 will forever call into question the cleanliness and legitimacy of that record. The coroner at the inquest into her death reported no proof of recent use of steroids (she was ten years retired) although he was unable to rule out steroid use in her past.   

It is with curious symmetry, Slot argues, that Dwain Chambers's likely court appearance on Wednesday will fall on the 20th anniversary of the day that Flo-Jo set a world record of 10.49sec in the 100m that may never be broken.

With Marion Jones's recent spectacular fall from grace, are we going to view all the world-beating performances of the past with ridicule and suspicion? Now that the drugs cheats appear to being caught and the tests appear to be working, isn't it time to tear up the record book and start again from scratch?

What do you think? Vote below and please leave a comment in the field at the bottom of this post.

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Comments

[ROGER PRINCE]

I dont think that is fair to flo jo it think that is an injustice to her and family i will still consider her the fastest woman in the world and that would not change it dosent matter if it is erazed from the record books.secondly they never found any drugs or any substance in her boby not even onto her death. so i think you should give honor where honor is due,and leave flo jo world record alone and may her soul rest in peace.

[Jo]

Too bad. People who don't cheat had made their best effort, and their records are gone!? I think it's better using a special mark or note for cheaters, like "[!] Using drugs" or something like that.

[m Jobson]

I beleive that Dwain chambers should be given the chance to compete in the olympics. I watched Dwain at the trials and was moved to tears of Joy and sadness when he crossed the line a winner. He has made a terrible mistake and has spent the past 2 years trying to rebuilt his life and integrity. A life time ban for someone who has dedicated his life to the sport is wrong and is an infringment of his human rights. So great is the pressure for success many athletes have fallen victim to the pressures of inducements from unscrupulous sponsors and trainers. Give him a second chance and use his story to educate others.We should turn our attention to stopping those pushing the drugs.

[randy dale]

when the U.S. went to metrics all records were scrapped, so I see no problem with scrapping all records and starting new as of 2000. I don't see how some records can stay and some be removed. If the athlete did not test positive at the time then all should be kept even if later they test positive. But, for the good of track every record should be post 1999.

[Gerald Clarke]

At the time that the Eastern bloc drug taking was revealed All Female track records became illegitimate as did most if not all field game records. Flo-Jo Stecher Eckert Koch, Kratochvilova Kazankina then followed by the amazing Chinese 5k and 10k. Scores of Olympic Gold medals were hopelessly tainted. Then there's the USA, 30 to 40 medals mostly gold are suspect......