Tomlinson, who previously shared the British record of 8.35m with Rutherford, called the latter's mark into question after claiming that pictures taken from YouTube footage showed it was "not a marginal foul" but "a large foul jump."

But a spokeswoman for USA Track & Field (USATF), which sanctioned the event run by its Southern California Association at the Olympic Training Center, commented: "All marks are verified and legal".

Tomlinson claimed pictures showed Rutherford overstepping the take-off marker.

He added he had established no plasticine marker had been used beyond the board to show up indentations of any overstepping, in contravention of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Rule 184.3.

The YouTube clip cited by Tomlinson as showing Rutherford overstepped the mark before recording his British record of 8.51m in San Diego last week ©YouTube

But the YouTube footage cited does not appear conclusive and the freeze-framed still of what is said to be Rutherford's foot on the board does not show the athlete's body.

Nor is it conclusive that the picture is taken of the record jump.



Tomlinson told BBC Tees: "I don't want to make it look as if this is an attack on Greg.

"Maybe people will look at it and say, 'You're attacking him', but let's look at the evidence.

"There's video evidence that's circulating around that clearly states that it's not a marginal foul it's a large foul jump.

"We are British Athletics and we have to almost set an example.

"We've got to be above all this.

"And if we are going to set national records these records have to be proper, national records set legitimately that people are happy with and that people can accept.

"Now the jumping world, literally, are just laughing about this particular competition.

"So if we are starting to accept this then, for me, personally, I just think we are maybe losing a little bit of the essence of the sport.

"This isn't necessarily about breaking records, winning medals and making money.

"This should be about what's right and what's wrong. It has to go through a relatively long process.

"It has to be ratified correctly, otherwise, where do you draw a line in the sand?

"Which seems to be rather ironic.

"But where do we draw a line in the sand?

"Because – can I send a couple of my friends on an officials course for a weekend and set up a little competition down here and they'll pull the tape measure to 9.55m and I'll be the world record holder for the rest of my life.

"That's maybe off the subject.

"I just hope that whatever the outcome is I think it's fair it's looked at."

Chris Tomlinson, pictured at the 2011 World Championships, says Rutherford's British record of 8.51m set in San Diego last week was "a large foul" ©Getty Images

Rutherford, however, has defended his effort.

"All the right i's were dotted and t's crossed," he told one British newspaper.

"Ultimately, I wouldn't do it if it was not an official competition because the risk of jumping well and it not being official would absolutely gut me."

Last summer Tomlinson, who lost out to Rutherford in the choice of who should go to the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, tweeted an angry reaction to his rival's failure to reach the final.

"Words can't describe my anger. Season ruined on media profile & not current athletic form. Thanks for the support from the athletics community," Tomlinson said in a tweet that he swiftly deleted and replaced with the following message: "Thanks for the support. Choosing not to tweet (again). Will regret it when my blood pressure settles!! Good luck to all the team. I'll see u soon."

But the Twitter interchange between the two immediately after Rutherford's latest effort was friendly and respectful. "Wow well done to @GregJRutherford. 8.51! Class jumping" tweeted Tomlinson on April 25, with Rutherford replying: "Thanks Chris. My body hurts."

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