|
International False Start Rule - IAAF wants to go to one false start
and you are dq'd rule like high-schools - US Federation not willing to
go along
The country who traditionally produce the world's quickest sprinters
are a
little slow out of the blocks in reacting to a change in the rules for
events up to 400 metres.
USA Track and Field, who run the sport in the United States, have - it
seems - emerged somewhat bleary-eyed into 2003. Their apparent reluctance
to
fully embrace the changes in the false start regulations could lead to
chaos
and yet another clash with the world governing body, the International
Association of Athletics Federations.
The new rule, passed by a narrow majority of the IAAF congress before
the
2001 World Championships in Edmonton, came into effect on Jan 1 and allows
only one false start before athletes are disqualified from sprint events.
After the first false start, any athlete who transgresses will automatically
be given a red card, regardless of whether he or she was responsible for
the
initial violation. Formerly, athletes were disqualified after they had
committed two false starts, as was the case with Linford Christie at the
Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
The change in the rules is controversial and stems from the IAAF's
determination to make the sport slicker for television. It will cut out
gamesmanship and help meetings keep to schedule. However, it will also
mean
an end to the tension of multiple false starts that can make a sprint
final
so exciting.
The new rule was not approved without a fight. UK Athletics, led by their
chief executive, Dave Moorcroft, joined USATF in speaking out against
it and
when news of the congress vote reached the athletes, Maurice Greene and
Marion Jones were among those who immediately called for a rethink.
The vote was so close that the IAAF accepted the effect of the new rule
will
have to be monitored closely.
There is a chance that the rule could be rescinded at the next congress,
before this summer's World Championships in Paris. However, for this year,
at least, athletes and officials will have to get used to it.
This is where USATF could come unstuck. Opposed to the change from the
start
and apparently convinced it will not survive, they plan to introduce the
new
rule only for those meetings in the US held under IAAF rules.
So far, that means next week's Millrose Games in New York and all IAAF
Grand
Prix meetings staged in America, while the National Collegiate Athletic
Association already use a far stricter 'one false start and you're out'
rule.
Alarmingly, a spokesman for USATF said they would revert to the old false
start rule for their own national championships. She also said that if
Greene, Tim Montgomery or any other sprinter broke a world record, they
would submit it for the normal ratification by the IAAF.
For their part, the IAAF are none too chuffed at the prospect of having
to
remind the Americans that, under the sport's new rules, the record would
be
invalid. The prospect remains of an American national record being quicker
than the world record. Crazy. Needless to say, the IAAF will continue
to
persuade USATF to toe the line.
It was only 10 days ago that USATF and the IAAF agreed to bury the hatchet
after the row that followed the Americans' reluctance to name the athletes
who had allegedly tested positive for drugs before the Sydney Olympics
and
the sport could do without another rumpus between the two.
Unlike his counterpart in the US, Moorcroft has risen to the challenge.
He
said: "Any new rule change inevitably leads to some nervousness from
athletes and we want to ease the fears for those competing in our events."
To that end, the rule will be used for all televised events in Britain,
beginning with the Norwich Union International at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow,
next
weekend.
The rule appears to hold no fears for Jason Gardener, the European indoor
champion and record-holder. He said: "With the old rule it has been
very
annoying, especially in championships where you could be in a semi-final
and
there could be six false starts.
"By the end of the race it can feel like a prolonged training session
and
you end up physically and mentally exhausted.
"A small twitch on the blocks could be drastic, with an athlete
having to
leave the arena without having been able to compete. But all athletes
will
have to become more disciplined."
Alan Bell, a veteran of 23 seasons as a starter, is also a fan. He and
his
team of officials will undergo a series of training sessions with the
new
rule, in preparation for their leading role at the World Indoor
Championships, which take place in Birmingham's National Indoor Arena
on
March 14-16.
Those championships will offer the IAAF a definitive guide to how their
new
rule is working.
An IAAF spokesman said: "We think athletes will cope but we will
be
monitoring things throughout the year. The big test is the World Indoor
Championships."
Bell will be the chief starter there. "We will have an experienced
team of
officials and the best technology available, which includes an instant
video
replay of all starts," he said.
"The new rule will make the start more clinical and it will also
bring
equality and common sense."
Eamonn Condon
Back to DyeStatCal News
|
is published by 