Home >> Track & Field >> Around the Track Archives >> August 12, 2005
IAAF decides to stick with one-false start rule for next two years
August 12, 2005
HELSINKI (AP) - The International Association of Athletics Federations decided Wednesday to stick to the current one false-start rule for the next two years. Led by Canada, several countries criticized the proposed change, leading IAAF president Lamine Diack to withdraw it from consideration from the rule-making congress.
The IAAF council proposed doing away with the current system of allowing one false start, believing the rule is abused by athletes who want to unsettle opponents by deliberately false starting.
The issue will be taken up again at the next Congress in Osaka, Japan, in 2007.
A change to no false starts would force athletes to begin sprint races much more conservatively and, hence, clock slower times.
Currently, one false start is allowed for the entire field. Anyone jumping the gun after that is automatically disqualified.
The rule change would affect the 100 and 200 metres, and the sprint hurdles, where athletes may be slower out of the blocks to avoid immediate disqualification.
Some officials have raised the possibility that a change in the rule should be accompanied by the introduction of a new set of world records.