There is no question that the world...

There is no question that the world javelin record of 298 feet 7 inches by Steve Backley of Britain will be approved, a spokesman for the International Amateur Athletic Federation said.

“The record was made with a fully approved javelin and in absolutely regular conditions (in London),” Franco Fava said. “The IAAF Council has no reason not to ratify it at its first session in 1991, when all records for the previous year are considered.”

On Sunday, an unnamed IAAF official had said that the record would not be approved by the organization’s council because the javelin involved--the controversial Nemeth javelin, with a roughened surface to make it fly farther--did not meet its specifications.

Fava said the IAAF Technical Committee had approved a recommendation to the IAAF Council for a new javelin. The recommendation was expected to be endorsed by the IAAF Congress in August of 1991, and the world record would start again with the new model.