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British athletics association proposes expunging all track records

In this Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, Russia's national drug-testing laboratory in Moscow, is photographed. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)
In this Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 file photo, Russia's national drug-testing laboratory in Moscow, is photographed. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File)

Knock it down, start all over.

As part of a plan to combat doping in track and field, UK Athletics, the United Kingdom's athletics foundation, has proposed a far-reaching plan that would include wiping out all world records and initiating lifetime bans for any UK athlete caught doping.

"The integrity of athletics was challenged as never before in 2015," said Ed Warner, UK Athletics chairman. "Clean athletes and sports fans the world over have been let down. Trust in the sport is at its lowest point for decades. Greater transparency, tougher sanctions, longer bans - and even resetting the clock on world records for a new era - we should be open to do whatever it takes to restore credibility in the sport."

International federations have investigated doping allegations regarding athletes from Russia, Morocco, Turkey, and Kenya.

UK Athletics' plan would wipe out every single track and field record now on the books, beginning the start of a new "Clean Athletics" era. However, athletes protested the idea immediately. "Without doubt you are going to punish innocent athletes, so why do it again when they have already had to compete against cheats during their career?" said Paula Radcliffe, who has held the women's marathon mark since 2003. "I feel innocent athletes have suffered enough at the hands of drug cheats."

The overall proposal calls for more accountability for athletic associations, governments and sponsors, as well as increased record-gathering and broader sampling pools for all athletes.

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.