Peaty, Halsall, Lowe and Walker-Hebborn world record approved by CAS
Adam Peaty, Francesca Halsall, Jemma Lowe and Chris Walker-Hebborn will be recognised as world record holders following an appeal to CAS.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) granted the appeal of Great Britain swimmers Adam Peaty, Francesca Halsall, Jemma Lowe and Chris Walker-Hebborn for their world record to be recognised.
At the 32nd European Swimming Championships in Berlin in 2014, the quartet set a time of three minutes and 44.02 seconds in the 4x100 metre mixed medley relay final, constituting a world record at the time it was set.
Furthermore, Peaty produced a time of 26.62secs en route to gold in the 50m breaststroke, also a world record at that point.
Although competitors in the events underwent doping controls and returned no abnormalities, samples from the British athletes were not included among those tested, so the International Swimming Federation (FINA) would not formally approve the times.
However, CAS has overturned the FINA decision following an appeal, stating "the absence of EPO tests by the testing authority should not fall to the detriment of the athletes and lead to the non-recognition of the world records".
British Swimming was pleased with CAS' verdict, adding in a statement: "British Swimming has welcomed the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision to grant an appeal against the non-ratification of two world records set by British athletes in 2014."