Keely Hodgkinson: Why Olympics Champion is Hot Favourite to Smash World Indoor Record in Lievin

Keely Hodgkinson's recent performance at the UK Indoor Championships has ignited a debate about the legitimacy of the women's indoor 800m world record.

The Olympic champion's stunning 1:56.33 run in Birmingham was not just a new British record but also the third-fastest time ever recorded indoors, raising questions about the athletes who stand ahead of her in the history books.

The two women with faster all-time marks, Jolanda Batagelj and Stephanie Graf, have both served multi-year suspensions for anti-doping rule violations. This fact has led many to argue that Hodgkinson is already the fastest clean athlete in the event's history.

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Google News, Stay informed with Latest Sport News

On paper, Hodgkinson sits third on the all-time list as she prepares to challenge the official world record of 1:55.82 in Lievin this Thursday. However, the records preceding hers are clouded by controversy:

Jolanda Batagelj: The current world record holder (1:55.82) received a ban after testing positive for EPO in 2007. Stephanie Graf: The second-fastest performer in history (1:55.85) was suspended for two years in 2010 for her connection to the Humanplasma blood-doping affair.

While there is no direct evidence that either athlete was doping when they set their records in 2002, their subsequent bans cast a long shadow over their achievements. For many observers, these marks are tainted and should be removed from official records.

Hodgkinson's blistering time is part of a wider trend that has seen the women's 800m reach unprecedented speeds. Switzerland's Audrey Werro recently clocked 1:57.27 in Belgrade, and Britain's Isabelle Boffey ran 1:57.43 in Boston.

Before this season, no woman other than Hodgkinson had broken the 1:57.50 barrier indoors since 2004, highlighting the current depth of talent in the event.

If the records held by athletes with doping histories were to be invalidated, Hodgkinson's 1:56.33 would not just be a national best but the legitimate world record.

As she lines up to race again, the track and field community will be watching closely, hoping she can officially claim the top spot and erase any doubt about who is truly the fastest of all time.