Javelin is a bit of an outlier in the Olympics in that throws today are nowhere near the records, even after the changes discussed in the article. The winning throw this year was 87.58m, with only one other competitor managing even 86m. The world record, dating from 1996, is 98.48m, a full 10 meters and then some longer. Germany's Vetter, the one modern javelin thrower who has come within striking distance of that (96m), was off his game and couldn't even get over 85m.
So why are we so much worse than 25 years ago? The obvious explanation would doping.
So why are we so much worse than 25 years ago? The obvious explanation would doping.