Matt Denny at centre of ‘wind doping’ claim after setting Oceania discus record

Olympian Matt Denny is doing things he’s never done before but his latest incredible act has come under fire amid ‘wind doping’ allegations.

Aussie Olympian Matt Denny’s incredible discus throw at a meeting in the United States at the weekend has come under fire as suggestions of ‘weather doping’ sweep the sport.

Competing at the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational on Sunday, at a venue with favourable tailwinds, Denny, an Olympic bronze medallist, hurled the disc a mammoth 74.78m.

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That passed the mark of 74.35m set by Lithuanian powerhouse Mykolas Alekna at the same event last year, a throw which broke a world record which stood since 1986.

It also came after the 28-year-old recently became the first Australian to crash through the 70m barrier as he continued to improve his personal best throws.

But Queenslander Denny didn’t have long to revel in his latest stunning throw, as 22-year-old Alekna, the Paris Olympics silver medallist, pulled out two monster throws of his own.

He passed Denny with a throw of 74.89m first-up, then pushed the world record out even further by throwing 75.56m in the fourth round.

Bronze medallist Matthew Denny of Team Australia (R) celebrates on the podium during the Men's Discus Throw medal ceremony on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

However, after Alekna and Denny’s throws several Scandinavian commentators and coaches have moved to discredit them, claiming the venue gave them an unfair advantage.

Unlike various track and field events, the discus throw has no restrictions on wind assistance when it comes to records.

And Millican Field in Oklahoma features several throwing circles positioned to help athletes take full advantage of the wind, according to Reuters.

“Mykolas Alekna smashes his own world record with a 75.56 throw in a wind-battered Ramona and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” Swedish commentator Mats Wennerholm said.

(L-R) Paris silver medallist Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna, gold medallist Jamaica's Roje Stona and bronze medallist Australia's Matthew Denny. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP)

“It just becomes ridiculous in a competition boosted by gale-force winds. Weather doping should be added to the banned list.”

The controversy has sparked a debate in the athletics community, with many wanting tweaks to what counts as an official record, in a bid to ensure fairness.

World Athletics has yet to comment, but the problem of how wind can affect performance in discus compared to a track event remains a point of contention.

– with NewsWire

Originally published as Matt Denny at centre of ‘wind doping’ claim after setting Oceania discus record