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There will now be replacements for late withdrawals in semis and finals, waiting area for sprinters and 800m runners as well as own implements for throwers
World Athletics has made changes to rules and evens ahead of the 2023 World Athletics Championships set to take place in Budapest, Hungary from August 19-27.
Athlete replacement policy
In Budapest, any lanes or starting position left empty due to the withdrawal of an athlete will, where possible, be filled by the next-best ranked athlete.
This policy will apply to finals and semi-finals in all disciplines, including field events and relays. There will be no re-draw of lanes or re-ordering of attempts.
A virtual ‘hot seat’ system will be implemented, where the next-best ranked athlete(s) or teams will be on notice to wait for possible withdrawals. A maximum of two athletes will be considered for each replacement.
The q room
For all sprints, hurdles and 800m events, a room will be set up where non-automatic qualifiers can wait to see if they have advanced.
The room will have comfortable chairs on which to relax, TV screens to watch subsequent races, foam rollers and stretch bands, refreshments, as well as access to their coaches and kit.
Athletes can stay in the room for up to 20 minutes and will then be taken through the mixed zone. The room will have TV cameras, so fans can watch the outcome unfold.
Throwing implements
Previously, throwers have not been able to use their own throwing implements if the same models are on the list of those provided by the organisers. That restriction has now been lifted. The limit of two implements per athlete remains.
This rule will apply to Kenya’s Julius Yego, the 2015 javelin world champion, as he can now opt to his own throwing implements, if he so wishes, in Budapest.
The changes add onto the qualification to next round in middle-distance events earlier this year.
For middle-distance events longer than 800m in which athletes qualify by time (after the automatic qualifiers), there had been complaints on the significant disadvantage to athletes in the first heat compared to the athletes in the following heats, due to their knowledge of what time is required to qualify.
From Budapest onwards, qualifying from rounds of the 1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m will be based purely on positions, not time.
Additional information from World Athletics
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