Diamond League: New rule could see Greg Rutherford skip London Anniversary Games

The Olympic champion believes less recovery time is 'dangerous to the athletes'

Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford (GETTY IMAGES)

Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford could opt to skip the London Anniversary Games in July because of a controversial new Diamond League rule which he feels is "dangerous".

From this year the sport's world governing body the IAAF have introduced a new rule for their flagship series, meaning only the top four jumpers or throwers in a competition after three rounds get their next three attempts.

Having only four athletes for the final three rounds of jumping means far less recovery time for the athletes involved and Rutherford feels it is undermining the event.

"I think it is a ridiculous idea," said the 29-year-old, who competes at the Birmingham Diamond League on Sunday.

"It is not conducive to good jumps and I feel it is dangerous to the athletes. We do put a lot of force through our bodies in the long jump and it does take its toll. You wouldn't ask a sprinter to run 100 metres as fast as possible and say, 'Go and do it faster' four minutes later."

At the Golden Gala in Rome on Thursday, in which Rutherford triumphed to extend his winning streak which stretches back to last July, only four of the final 12 jumps were legal efforts, with athletes either passing attempts to fouling.

The new rule, which does not apply at the Olympics, could persuade Rutherford to skip a return to the Olympic Stadium for the Anniversary Games, the Diamond League meeting which take place just three weeks before the athletics programme gets under way in Rio.

"It's all about retaining my Olympic gold," said Rutherford, who is also the world, European and Commonwealth champion. "I'm not going to risk that for a Diamond League event."

PA