IAAF Track and Field Rules [2012]

Last Updated on November 16, 2012 by Jimson Lee

I wrote about the possibility of the IAAF changing their Track and Field Rules for 2012 because of the Usain Bolt DQ in Daegu.

Nope.

Zilch.

Nada.

It’s not going to happen.

Here is the current Track and Field Rules for 2012, in English.  Click here for the 284 pages, 3MB PDF file.  Everyone should read this, as you have to know your rights, and especially know when to protest! 

And know when to fold (Kenny Rogers, are you listening?)

Rule 162.6

Take a look at rule 162.6

There is no change in the false start rule:

An athlete, after assuming a full and final set position, shall not commence his start until after receiving the report of the gun. If, in the judgement of the Starter or Recallers, he does so any earlier, it shall be deemed a false start.

Rule 162.5

If you aren’t ready, for example, for some reason your blocks don’t feel right, or something is bothering you like the crown noise, you can raise your arm and DO NOT ASSUME THE “ON YOUR MARKS” POSITION.  According to the rules, you will NOT be charged with a false start.  The starter’s job is to everyone to have a fair start.  Once the Starter is satisfied that all athletes are steady in the“Set” position, the gun shall be fired.

On the command “On your marks” or “Set”, as the case may be, all athletes shall, at once and without delay, assume their full and final starting position. If, for any reason, the Starter is not satisfied that all is ready for the start to proceed after the athletes are on their marks, he shall order all athletes to withdraw from their marks and the Starter’s Assistants shall assemble them again. (See also Rule 130.)
Where an athlete in the judgement of the Starter,

(a) after the command “On your marks” or “Set”, and before the report of the gun, causes the start to be aborted, for instance by raising a hand and/or standing or sitting up in the case of a crouch start, without a valid reason, (such reason to be evaluated by the relevant Referee); or
(b) fails to comply with the commands “On your marks” or “Set” as appropriate, or does not place himself in his final starting position after a reasonable time; or
(c) after the command “On your marks” or “Set” disturbs other athletes in the race through sound or otherwise,

the Starter shall abort the start. The Referee may warn the athlete for improper conduct (disqualify in case of a second infringement of the Rule during the same competition), according to Rules 125.5 and 145.2. In this case, or when an extraneous reason was considered to be the cause for aborting the start, or the Referee does not agree with the Starter’s decision, a green card shall be shown to all the athletes to indicate that a false start was not committed by any athlete.

Rule 146.3, Protesting a False Start

This rule is not commonly known, but it does happen.  You can orally protest to the starter or referee and still run the race under protest (which may get nullified if your protest gets rejected).  It’s like a “provisional shot” in Golf.  But with today’s starting blocks with pressure sensitive pads, once it detects a movement less than 0.100 seconds, you’re gone.

If an athlete makes an immediate oral protest against having been charged with a false start, a Track Referee may allow the athlete to compete under protest in order to preserve the rights of all concerned. Competing under protest shall not be allowed if the false start was detected by an IAAF approved false start control apparatus, unless for any reason the Referee determines that the information