Carl Lewis derides plans to eradicate long jump fouls as early ‘April Fools joke’

• Worlds Athletics will trial new take-off zone' this year
• Olympic legend says it will take key skill away from event

Radical proposals that could see foul jumps eliminated from the long jump have been criticised as an April Fools joke" by four-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis.

The World Athletics chief executive, Jon Ridgeon, confirmed on Monday that the governing body would be trialling a new take-off zone" from which competitors can leap into the pit instead of the usual fixed wooden board. Ridgeon said the proposal would virtually eliminate the possibility of a foul - as athletes would be measured from where they began their jump rather than from the board.