National governing body to meet mid-May when a decision is set to be made as to the legality of the Olympic champion’s 8.51m jump

UK Athletics is due to make a ruling as to whether Greg Rutherford’s 8.51m leap at Chula Vista should be ratified as a British record at a meeting in mid-May, the national governing body has confirmed.

The Olympic champion added 16 centimetres to his previous best with his world-leading leap in San Diego last week, a mark which boosts him to joint 19th on the world all-time list.

But following the competition grainy images from a video on YouTube that appear to show the 27-year-old s toe over the board have been circulated and those, together with the reported lack of Plasticine normally used to help judge a foul, mean the mark recorded at the low-key meeting has been discredited.

The reluctant leader of those doubting the authenticity of Rutherford s record is fellow British long jumper Chris Tomlinson, who previously shared the UK record jointly with Rutherford with 8.35m.

“I don’t want to sit and make it look like it s an attack on Greg,” he said. “But let’s look at the evidence. There’s video evidence that clearly states it’s not a marginal foul it’s a large foul jump. I feel it isn’t a legitimate jump.”

UKA confirm that Chula Vista was a USA Track & Field-sanctioned meet, with USA Track & Field officials present, with the governing body for the sport in the United States also stating that marks at the Chula Vista meeting are “verified and legal”.

Rutherford himself said: ”All the i s were dotted and t s crossed. Ultimately, I wouldn’t do it if it was not an official competition because the risk of jumping well and it not being official would absolutely gut me.”

While a UKA spokeswoman told AW: ”With any new British record, British Athletics receives paperwork from the event the athlete competed in and this goes before the British Athletics technical advisory group, who then ratify the record based on a number of sanctions being completed.”

The technical advisory group comprises around 10 people, including international technical delegates who have major international championship experience.

Rutherford’s previous best of 8.35m, which boosted him to joint UK record-holder with Tomlinson, was also set in Chula Vista in 2012.

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