Wind-aided throws in US meet spark criticism

Performance-enhancing drugs have long been the scourge of athletics field events, but now some observers are claiming "weather doping" was behind a slew of discus records at a US meet on April 13.

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LOS ANGELES - Performance-enhancing drugs have long been the scourge of athletics field events, but now some observers are claiming "weather doping" was behind a slew of discus records at a US meet on April 13.

Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, smashed his own world record when he became the first man to cross the 75-meter mark with a throw of 75.56m at the Continental Tour Bronze event in Oklahoma.

The 22-year-old bettered his own previous mark of 74.35m, set at the same venue in 2024, having also passed it with his opening throw of 74.89m on April 13.

Australia's Matthew Denny also impressed, beating Alekna's old record with a throw of 74.78m as five men cleared 70m at the same event for the first time.