FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rule 5 reminder issued to meeting organisers and Member Federations
as more athletes return to the track
As more athletes around the world return to the track for national
championships, one-day meetings and other record-breaking attempts, World
Athletics has issued a reminder to Area Associations and Member Federations
today about the recently introduced Rule 5, governing competition shoes.
The amended rule, which puts a sole height limit of 25mm on all shoes worn
in track events of 800m and above in distance (including Steeplechase),
came into force on 28 July 2020, when it was published.
The rule does not prevent a road running shoe from being worn on the track
but a 30mm or 40mm road running shoe cannot be worn for track events
because of the 25mm limit.
As this is a transition period, all results currently in the World
Athletics database will be processed, but any result of an individual
athlete who has worn non-compliant shoes for the race will be marked
"Uncertified" ("TR5.5").
In the case of National Championships and other domestic competitions, for
results to be validated and recognised by World Athletics for statistics
purposes, such competitions must be held under World Athletics Technical
Rules and Competition Rules.
This means that Rule 5 of the Technical Rules must be applied in full for
the competition results to be recognised by World Athletics as valid.
To preserve the integrity of national records and statistics, the
responsibility lies with the Member Federation to ensure that all athletes,
officials and competition organisers are fully aware that Rule 5 of the
Technical Rules will be applied in full.
If a Member Federation or competition organiser permits an athlete to
compete in non-compliant shoes, then the athlete's individual results from
the competition will be marked in World Athletics' records and statistics
as 'Uncertified' ('TR5.5') i.e. invalid. In some cases, this may apply to
the entire race.
Results achieved before 28 July, where an athlete has worn a shoe above the
current track limits, are valid provided the results were achieved in shoes
that complied with the sole thicknesses in the previous rule. For example,
if an athlete wore 40mm non-spike shoe on the track or 30mm spike between
31 January 2020 and the notification and publication of change of rules on
28 July 2020, then the competition result is valid.
The list of shoes that were submitted to World Athletics by manufacturers
for assessment, and have been approved, will be published on World
Athletics' website shortly to assist Athletes, Member Federations,
Technical Officials and meeting organisers.
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