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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Exclusive by Sean Ingle

World Athletics scraps takeoff zone idea to avoid ‘war’ with long jumpers

The two types of takeoff board for the long jump with the scrapped takeoff zone
The two types of takeoff board for the long jump with the scrapped takeoff zone. Composite: Getty, Shutterstock

World Athletics has scrapped plans to introduce a takeoff zone for the long jump rather than the traditional board because of widespread hostility from athletes.

Jon Ridgeon, the governing body’s chief executive, said that while the proposals had gone well in trials, “you ultimately do not want to go to war with your most important group of people”.

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