What gets me disqualified, and can I protest?

Under the World Triathlon Competition Rules, a disqualification is for severe violations, such as repeated bike draft infringements or dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct. Examples from the rules' penalty list (Appendix K):

• Not following the instructions of technical officials or race officials: disqualification.
• Abusive language or behaviour toward event personnel or a spectator: disqualification and a report to the World Triathlon Tribunal for possible suspension.
• Intentionally blocking, charging, obstructing or interfering with another athlete: disqualification (unintentional: warning and amend).
• Accepting assistance from anyone other than a technical official, race official or other athlete: warning and amend if possible, otherwise disqualification.
• Not wearing the unaltered race number as ordered (age-group): warning and amend if possible, otherwise disqualification.
• Not stopping in the next penalty box after a drafting penalty: disqualification.

An athlete who is disqualified may still finish the competition.

Protests: you may protest a penalty, except a drafting violation or a time penalty you have already served. If you do not serve a time penalty you are disqualified, but you may protest that disqualification and the Head Referee's decision to issue the time penalty. The Competition Jury then either dismisses the protest and confirms the disqualification, or upholds it, removes the time penalty and reverses the disqualification.