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London - Paula Radcliffe's marathon record time will no longer be classed as a world record for the distance after the sport's governing body the IAAF changed the criteria.
The changes, made at the recent World Championships in South Korea, specify that only times achieved in all-women competitions will be acknowledged for world record purposes with performances in mixed conditions now being referred to only as "world best".
This means that Radcliffe's 2003 mark of two hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds in the London marathon is no longer the world record, as she ran it in a mixed-race after following male pacemakers. The 37-year-old's London marathon time of 2:17:42 from 2005 is now classed as the world record.
The World Marathon Majors (WMM) and the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) have issued a statement describing the changes as "unfair".
"There should be two world records for women's road-running performances, separately recognising those achieved in mixed competition and women's-only conditions," the statement said.
"AIMS and WMM will continue to acknowledge both types of performances as world records and will discuss this matter further with the IAAF.
"The vast majority of women's road races throughout the world are held in mixed conditions.
"The current situation where the fastest time is not now recognised as a record is confusing and unfair and does not respect the history of our sport."
AIMS represents more than 300 races worldwide, the vast majority of them road races.
Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York are WMM members.
The changes, made at the recent World Championships in South Korea, specify that only times achieved in all-women competitions will be acknowledged for world record purposes with performances in mixed conditions now being referred to only as "world best".
This means that Radcliffe's 2003 mark of two hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds in the London marathon is no longer the world record, as she ran it in a mixed-race after following male pacemakers. The 37-year-old's London marathon time of 2:17:42 from 2005 is now classed as the world record.
The World Marathon Majors (WMM) and the Association of International Marathons (AIMS) have issued a statement describing the changes as "unfair".
"There should be two world records for women's road-running performances, separately recognising those achieved in mixed competition and women's-only conditions," the statement said.
"AIMS and WMM will continue to acknowledge both types of performances as world records and will discuss this matter further with the IAAF.
"The vast majority of women's road races throughout the world are held in mixed conditions.
"The current situation where the fastest time is not now recognised as a record is confusing and unfair and does not respect the history of our sport."
AIMS represents more than 300 races worldwide, the vast majority of them road races.
Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York are WMM members.
