World records of Chinese runners in doubt amid doping scandal
IAAF, the global athletics body, launches probe after letter details regime of state-sponsored illegal drug use in the early 1990s with the spotlight on ‘Ma’s Army’
The records of 10 Chinese runners are under a cloud after a letter surfaced detailing a regime of state-sponsored doping in the early 1990s – a time when China’s “Ma’s Army”, under coach Ma Junren, dominated women’s world middle-distance races.
Two world records are still held by superstar runner and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Hall of Fame inductee Wang Junxia.
We must disclose these criminal behaviours because we don’t want the same things [to] happen to the next generation
But a host of other titles and former world records were won by other signatories, which could lead to a shake-up in world rankings if the letter is verified.
The IAAF – the sport’s governing body – has launched a probe and asked the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) for assistance after inquiries from the South China Morning Post.
READ MORE: Forced state-sponsored doping revealed by China athletes who now risk loss of world records, titles and medals
The probe seeks to verify the letter’s signatories, and as they have admitted to using illegal drugs prior to a race they face penalties, including being stripped of titles.
