Chinese man again named 'world's tallest'

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LONDON, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Britain's Guinness World Records says Bao Xi Shun of China has regained his title of "world's tallest man" at 7 feet, 8.95 inches.

It's Bao's second stint as the champion of Guinness' "world's tallest living man" category, regaining the top spot from a Ukrainian man whose claim to be being more than eight feet tall was disallowed, the publisher said in a statement Wednesday.

Ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk's title was based not on first-hand examination but on a signed doctor's statement. Guinness has since tightened its rules on the "tallest man" title, one of the most popular of the book's categories, to include only men measured in person by an official adjudicator.

So, Bao will hold the title when the new Guinness World Records book is published Sept. 17, the publisher said.

"We are the global authority on world records and our obligation is to provide the public with the most accurate information possible," said Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief. "According to our new guidelines, Leonid Stadnyk does not meet the criteria for the evidence required to support his claim, which is why we felt that it was only fair to rename (Bao), whom we have measured in person."