London Marathon could allow the elite women’s race in 2027 to unfold with male runners and pacemakers in pursuit of faster times and ultimately a world record.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsMarathon CEO Hugh Brasher is open to the idea of a mixed race to enable the world’s best women to target the world record held by the currently-banned Ruth Chepng'etich who ran a 2:09:56 to become the first woman to go under 2:10.She set the mark at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, and despite failing a drug test five months later and subsequently getting banned for three years, the world record stands.Julius Yego pens lengthy warning to athletes amidst doping menaceTigst Assefa, who holds the women only world mark of 2:15:41 from last year in London, appeared on track to break the overall world record at this year’s Berlin Marathon before rupturing her Achilles tendon in the closing stages and limping home in 2:11:04.“Will London, in the future, have a women’s only record? Yes, I think that’s important,” Brasher, who is pushing for cleaner sport in the World Marathon Majors in light of Peres Jepchirchir’s provisional suspension after a failed test, told the Independent. “However, in the past, we’ve played around with it. Paula Radcliffe, when she ran 2:15, had the women’s only record, so there were men running around her."##NAJAVA_MECA_10067087##“We’re prepared to mix it up. We very much talk to the athletes about what their goals are. I think what Assefa did in Berlin, it was a tragedy, in terms of the injury she got, we wish her well. It was incredible, she was going to beat that world record. It’s in touching distance."The CEO believes, like many, Chepngetich's Mark is tainted by her ban. "I’m sorry, but I think that world record is entirely dubious, if you study everything that’s been said, from the AIU, and what they believe, but that’s a personal opinion.”Former Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop announces plans to manufacture running shoes
59