IAAF considers changing rules on false starts
04/08/2005 LONDON (AP) - Track and field's governing body is considering changing the contentious false-start rule and making it tougher for athletes to switch nationalities. The International Association of Athletics Federations will debate the two high-profile issues this weekend at a meeting in Doha, Qatar. The IAAF council then will recommend any changes to the full congress, which meets in August before the world championships in Helsinki. Consensus might be tough to find on a proposed no false-start rule, where a runner jumping the gun would be immediately disqualified. Under the current rule that went into effect two years ago, the first false start is charged to all runners in the field - no matter the offender. After that, any runner who jumps the gun is disqualified. The rule created chaos at the world championships two years ago in Paris. After being called for a false start and disqualified, American Jon Drummond flopped on his back in his lane, folded his arms across his chest, and refused for five minutes to leave the track. The IAAF implemented the rule to cut down on the number of false starts. Under the previous rule, each runner was allowed one false start and disqualified for a second. In a poll on the IAAF Web site, almost 80 per cent of 1,351 respondents were against a no false-start rule. Former world 200-metre champion Frank Fredericks, a member of the IAAF athletes' commission, conducted a survey of top sprinters. He found opinion divided with 26 opposed to a no false-start rule and 18 in favour. "It is hard to imagine ever finding unanimous agreement whether we revert back to the previous rule, or stay with the present version, or undertake new proposals," IAAF general secretary Istvan Gyulai said. On the other key issue, the IAAF is expected to make it harder for athletes to switch nationalities. "The subject provokes many questions," Gyulai said. "Should there be a waiting period at all? "The answer to which seems logically, yes." Dozens of top athletes from Kenya have changed nationalities in recent years, most seeking lucrative financial deals in the Gulf countries of Qatar or Bahrain. In the best-known case, former Kenyan runner Stephen Cherono switched to Qatar and changed his name to Saif Saaeed Shaheen. He won the steeplechase gold medal for his new country at the 2003 world championships in Paris. The IAAF council is expected to consider a so-called transfer of allegiance policy similar to one used by the International Olympic Committee. In most cases, athletes have to wait three years after new citizenship is acquired before competing for their new country. The waiting period would be reduced to two years if both national federations agreed. In "truly exceptional circumstances," the waiting period could be eliminated. |
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