World Athletics has declined to ratify the men’s half marathon world record set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo at the Barcelona Half Marathon, ruling that his winning time of 56:42 breached competition rules.
According to a report by Runner’s World Spain, World Athletics found that Kiplimo received illegal assistance during the race.
Broadcast footage showed the Ugandan running for much of the event around 10 to 15 metres behind the lead pace car.
Under Article 6.3.1 of the World Athletics Technical Rules, athletes are prohibited from receiving pacing assistance from anyone not competing in the same race or from any technical device other than a wearable.
Kiplimo’s run had taken 48 seconds off the previous world record and made him the first athlete to break the 57 minute barrier for the half marathon.
However, World Athletics determined that the proximity of the pace car constituted assistance, even though the rules do not specify a minimum distance required between athletes and a pace vehicle. The report also alleges that Kiplimo breached another regulation by receiving coaching advice during the race.
As a result of the decision, World Athletics will continue to recognise Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha as the men’s half marathon world record holder, based on his 57:30 performance at the 2024 Valencia Half Marathon.
Kiplimo and Kejelcha are both scheduled to compete at the 2026 TCS London Marathon on April 26, where the two distance stars are set to meet again on the sport’s biggest stage.
