On the Record -- Paula Radcliffe

(ATR) Since her retirement three years ago, marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has shifted her focus to anti-doping efforts and the rights of athletes. She took time out from SPORTELMonaco this week for a conversation with Around The Rings.

ATR: What do you feel when an athlete spokesperson like Beckie Scott reveals how she was harassed in the WADA Executive Committee for speaking out against the reinstatement of RUSADA?

Paula Radcliffe: The whole thing is very, very damaging for the credibility of the very institutions that are supposed to look after the clean athletes and the clean athletes' rights. It’s always concerning when you’ve got an athlete of the calibre and credibility of Beckie that those claims weren’t reacted to, and acted on and investigated straight away. They were serious allegations and they should have been acted on immediately because I think Beckie has a lot of respect among the athlete community for everything that she’s done, for the way that she’s not been afraid to stand up.

ATR: What is your personal opinion on the reinstatement of RUSADA?

Radcliffe: What’s been so concerning is that the lifting of RUSADA's ban has clearly been politically influenced and not done in the interests of clean sport. I was proud of the IAAF for taking the stand that they did and they still have not yet said that they will allow RUSAF back in. They have to fulfil their certain criteria. They’re sticking to their roadmap and I think that was what was concerning about WADA’s about-turn.

ATR: At the 2001 World Cup in Edmonton you had your first encounter with doping from Russia. The Russian Olga Yegorova had previously been convicted of EPO doping in Paris, but was allowed to compete on a technicality and even became 5000m world champion. You protested during the race from the stands. To what extent did that influence your attitude?

Radcliffe: I raced in the 10,000m. I didn’t feel that the girls in the race should be any more adversely affected so we decided to do the protest from the stands. I have always believed in standing up for what I believe in and speaking out my opinion.

ATR: You are a member of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). What has the AlU achieved so far?

Radcliffe: I think the Athletics Integrity Unit has achieved a great deal so far. It has an improved budget but is still actively working for more to be able to cover the testing pool efficiently and adequately. It is working of course on the testing, but also on increased intelligence and investigation to close down on the cheats. It also looks after all elements of integrity relating to athletics. An independent body that no other sport has.

ATR: Most recently, the AIU initiated a doping control laboratory in Kenya. How important is this for endurance sports in East Africa?

Radcliffe: This is extremely important and long overdue. We really needed better unannounced testing in East Africa for a long time and finally this is a big step towards fairer global testing.

ATR: The Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge set a fabulous record in the Berlin Marathon this year with a time of 2:01:13. Is it possible to break the two-hour mark?

Radcliffe: I do believe it is possible at some point but I think it is a long way into the future yet.

ATR: Your world record of 2:15:25 was set 15 years ago. Is it vulnerable and who can beat it?

Radcliffe: All records are there to be beaten and it is the nature of the sport that we are always improving.

ATR: You are a guest at SPORTEL this week. In your opinion, what does athletics have to change in order to become the focus of the media again?

Radcliffe: I think athletics is facing the challenge, it needs to promote the sport better but the biggest issue is restoring the credibility of the sport in the eyes of the fans and the athletes. The AIU and stance on Russia have gone some way to doing this and at least athletics as a sport is acknowledging the problem and working on tackling it head on.

ATR: Is the digitalization of the media industry an opportunity for athletics?

Radcliffe: I think it is for all sports

ATR: How will athletics develop in the future?

Radcliffe: I think it needs to keep the historic simplicity of athletics while at the same time embracing new technology and innovations to keep it attractive and relevant to new generations.

Interview by Heinz Peter Kreuzer

For general comments or questions,click here.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.