FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World Athletics amends rules governing shoe technology and Olympic
qualification system
World Athletics today announces further revisions to its rules governing
shoe technology, which are designed to give certainty to athletes preparing
for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and to preserve the integrity of
elite competition.
These amendments, approved by the World Athletics Council last week, are
based on significant ongoing discussions with the Working Group on Athletic
Shoes, established this year, and with the shoe manufacturers.
They include changes to the maximum height of spiked shoes for track and
field events and the establishment of an 'Athletic Shoe Availability
Scheme' for unsponsored elite athletes. The maximum height for road shoes
(40mm) remains unchanged.
The purpose of these amendments is to maintain the current technology
status quo until the Olympic Games in Tokyo across all events until a newly
formed Working Group on Athletic Shoes, which includes representatives from
shoe manufacturers and the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry
(WFSGI), have had the opportunity to set the parameters for achieving the
right balance between innovation, competitive advantage and universality
and availability.
The amendments include:
1. Clarification of the position for new shoes that have been approved to
date;
2. As an ongoing obligation, athletes, their authorised representative or
their shoe manufacturer must continue to submit shoe specifications and, if
requested, new shoes for examination by our independent expert;
3. Approved shoes to be made available prior to an international
competition for distribution to any uncontracted elite athlete via an
Athletic Shoe Availability Scheme. The Working Group on Athletic Shoes will
develop this scheme including timelines, elite athlete criteria, numbers of
pairs of shoes required and method of distribution.
4. Confirmation that the manufacturer commits to making the new shoe
available via a scheme to provide shoes to unsponsored elite athletes for
free and/or for purchase depending on whether they are qualified or an
unqualified athlete who benefits from a place at World Athletics Series
events or Olympic Games;
5. Provision of information concerning the availability of the shoe for
other unsponsored elite athletes who need a pair of shoes prior to
competition. This is in keeping with the principle of shoes being
reasonably available to athletes. As a priority item, in its forthcoming
meeting we will work with the working group and World Federation of Sports
Goods Industry to design an ‘Athletic Shoe Availability Scheme' to deliver
this. The scheme will cover process, criteria, numbers of pairs of shoes
required, method of distribution and when the shoe needs to be available
from (our position, which has been generally accepted by manufacturers, is
for one month prior to international competition).
The maximum height of the track spike shoes have been amended as set out in
the table below:
Event
- Maximum thickness of the sole (As per rule 5.5, notes (i), (ii), (iii)
and figures (a) & (b) to rule 5.5, and rule 5.13.3).
- Further rule requirement
Field events (except triple jump)
- 20mm
- Applies to all throwing events, and vertical and horizontal jumping
events except the triple jump. For all field events, the sole at the centre
of the athlete's forefoot must not be higher than the sole at centre of the
athlete's heel.
Triple jump
- 25mm
- The sole at the centre of the athlete's forefoot must not be higher
than the sole at centre of the athlete's heel.
Track events (including hurdle events) up to but not including 800m
- 20mm
- For relays the rule applies to the distance of the leg being run by
each athlete.
Track events from 800m and above (including steeplechase events)
- 25mm
- For relays the rule applies to the distance of the leg being run by
each athlete. For race walking events the maximum thickness of the sole is
the same as that for road events.
Cross country
- 25mm
Road events (running and race walking events)
- 40mm
Events under rule 57 of the technical rules
- Any thickness
World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon said the previous rule changes, announced
in late January, were designed to give the athletes clarity before the
Tokyo Olympic Games, which were originally due to take place in July-August
this year.
However the later postponement of the Olympic Games for a full year, due to
the global pandemic, had given the governing body more time to consult with
stakeholders and experts and develop amended rules that will guide the
sport through until late 2021.
"We have a better understanding now of what technology is already in the
market and where we need to draw the line to maintain the status quo until
after the Tokyo Olympic Games," Ridgeon said.
"In developing these rules we have been mindful of the principles of fair
play and universality, maintaining the health and safety of athletes,
reflecting the existing shoe market in these challenging economic times,
and achieving a broad consensus with the shoe manufacturers who are major
investors in our sport.
"These transitional rules give us more time to develop a set of working
rules for the long term, which will be introduced after the Olympic Games
next year, with the aim of achieving the right balance between innovation,
competitive advantage and universality."
Working Group on Athletic Shoes
The new Working Group on Athletic Shoes (WGAS) met for their first meeting
last Wednesday (22 July). It is tasked with scoping and overseeing studies
around shoe technology, exploring definitions to provide clarity to
athletes about the shoes they are able to compete in, creating a robust
certification and control process and providing expert advice and
recommendations to the World Athletics Competition Commission on the future
direction of World Athletics' Rules and Regulations concerning elite
athlete shoes for the long-term which may or may not be different to the
current rules. The structure and composition of the WGAS can be found here.
Olympic qualifying system to recommence for road athletes from September
2020
World Athletics will lift the suspension of the Tokyo Olympic qualification
system for the marathon and race walk events from 1 September 2020, due to
concerns over the lack of qualifying opportunities that may be available
for road athletes before the qualification period finishes on 31 May 2021.
The original suspension period, from 6 April to 30 November 2020, was
introduced due to the competition and training disruption caused by the
global pandemic, and remains in place for all other track and field events.
Road athletes will be able to register Olympic qualifying entry standards
from 1 September to 30 November, but only in pre-identified, advertised and
authorised races being staged on World Athletics certified courses, with
in-competition drug testing on site.
The accrual of points for world rankings and the automatic qualification
through Gold label marathons /Platinum Label marathons remains suspended
until 30 November 2020.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said it had become apparent that
marathon and race walk athletes may have very limited opportunities to
register Olympic qualifying times in 2021 due to the uncertainty around
staging mass participation events over the next year which relies heavily
on cities around the world agreeing to stage them.
"Most of the major marathons have already been cancelled or postponed for
the remainder of this year and the evolution of the pandemic makes it
difficult to predict if those scheduled for the first half of next year
will be able to go ahead," Coe said.
"That situation, combined with the fact that endurance athletes in the
marathon and race walks can only produce a very limited number of
high-quality performances a year, would really narrow their qualifying
window without this adjustment.
"We have also been assured by the Athletics Integrity Unit that the
anti-doping system is capable of protecting the integrity of road races
during this period and will put in place strict testing criteria for all
athletes."
Competition opportunities
The Virgin Money London Marathon, due to take place on Sunday 4 October, is
committed to working with World Athletics to promote this opportunity to
athletes around the world and to assist with their travel challenges so
they can participate in London and achieve their Olympic qualifying time.
World Athletics will also work with the Abu Dhabi Marathon to see if they
can offer similar opportunities.
In addition, we expect there will be at least two major race walking events
staged between 1 September and 30 November 2020.
Both the Athletes' Commission and Competition Commission were consulted
prior to this decision and approved the proposal.
The Athletes' Commission noted that this decision does not assist all
athletes, given the travel restrictions still imposed by some countries,
but will support the majority of road athletes in the particularly
difficult circumstances they face to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
In making the decision, the World Athletics Council also noted that the
conditions for making the Olympic standards at the World Athletics
Championships Doha 2019 were challenging for road event athletes whereas
the conditions for in-stadium events were excellent as the results showed.
World Athletics will also work with its Member Federations and meeting
organisers to ensure that there are sufficient pre-Olympic competition
opportunities for all track and field disciplines, particularly those that
traditionally have fewer meeting opportunities, from 1 December 2020
onwards.
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