IAAF brings in new false-start rule from next year

The world governing body of athletics changed its false-start rule on Wednesday to exclude any runner who jumps the gun from next year.

Currently, only the second runner to commit a false start in any race is expelled regardless of who caused the first one. Under the new rule, an offender will be immediately kicked out of the competition.

The rule was backed by the IAAF’s executive council, and its president Lamine Diack said 2010 was the ideal time to introduce the change since there are no major competitions scheduled. The world championships, which starts on Saturday, will still use the old rule.

“We need to change it next year because everyone will have ample time to change by the time of Daegu,” Diack said, referring to the South Korean city where the next worlds will be held, in 2011.

Jorge Salcedo, the head of the technical commission of the IAAF, said the current system favoured the cheaters, who deliberately committed a first false start to put their opponents on edge.

“There are athletes who do it on purpose,” he told the rule-making congress, which approved the change by a 97-55 margin with six abstentions.