All athletics world records set before 2005 are under threat of being erased under controversial plans to fight doping.

Women's world marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe and men's triple jump world record holder Jonathan Edwards have both condemned a move that would see their historic achievements wiped out.

Radcliffe, who ran her marathon best of two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds in London in 2003, attacked the plan as "cowardly" and "heavy handed" in a detailed Twitter posting on Monday night.

"Although we are moving forward, I don't believe we are yet at the point where we have a testing procedure capable of catching every cheat out there, so why reset at this point?" she wrote.

"Do we really believe a record set in 2015 is totally clean and one in 1995 not? I am hurt and do feel this damages my reputation and dignity.

"It is a heavy-handed way to wipe out some really suspicious records in a cowardly way by simply sweeping all aside instead of having the guts to take the legal plunge and wipe any record that would be found in a court of law to have been illegally assisted."

Triple jumper Edwards, who set his world record of 18.29 metres in 1995, echoed Radcliffe's claim that the IAAF lacked the "courage" to investigate individual record holders suspected of illegally enhanced performances.

"I wish they had the courage of their convictions," he told the Guardian. "If there are records that are unbelievable and suspicious, go for those."

He added: "I thought my record would go some day, just not to a bunch of sports administrators. It seems incredibly wrong-headed and cowardly."

Olympics legend Daley Thompson voiced his support for Radcliffe and Edwards.

Colin Jackson's 1994 indoor 60m hurdles world record of 7.30 secs (1994).

Jonathan Edwards' triple jump record of 18.29m (1995).

Paula Radcliffe's women's marathon time of 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds (2003).

European Athletics said overhauling the record lists will eliminate any doping doubts surrounding outstanding performances.

The IAAF has only stored blood and urine samples since 2005 and said all records before then would fail to meet its new three-point criteria for new standards:

European Athletics said its ruling council had accepted a project team's recommendations to establish the new criteria in elite competition.

The IAAF said the records set prior to 2005 would remain on an "all-time" list but not recognised as records officially.

IAAF president Lord Coe endorsed the move as a "step in the right direction" as the sport fights for "credibility" over doping testing.

"There will be athletes, current record holders, who will feel that the history we are recalibrating will take something away from them, but I think this is a step in the right direction and if organised and structured properly we have a good chance of winning back credibility in this area."

European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen said: "Performance records that show the limits of human capabilities are one of the great strengths of our sport, but they are meaningless if people don't really believe them.

"What we are proposing is revolutionary, not just because most world and European records will have to be replaced, but because we want to change the concept of a record and raise the standards for recognition to a point where everyone can be confident that everything is fair and above board."