What racing infractions can be sanctioned, and what are the penalties?

The Red Book says short track officials' duties follow the ISU Special Regulations and Technical Rules Short Track (2026 edition; Rules 295 and 296 cover racing and sanctions).

Infractions (ISU Rule 295.2): Off-Track, Impeding, Assistance, Kicking-Out and Embellishment. They are sanctioned only if the facts are clear and obvious and no shared responsibility is established. The general racing rule is that skaters must contribute to the honest, sporting and safe progress of the race so the result is decided on its merits. Relays also have Relaying Non Touch and Relaying During the Last Two Laps.

Sanctions (ISU Rule 296):

• Penalty: for a racing rule infringement. The skater is disqualified from that race and excluded from the next round of that distance.
• Yellow card: for an unsafe, unsportsmanlike, harmful or hazardous offence, or for more than one independent Impeding and/or Kicking-Out penalty in one race.
• Red card: for an infringement deemed dangerous or grossly negligent, for two yellow cards in the same event, or for non-compliance with an official's instructions or a breach of the ISU Code of Ethics.
• Shared responsibility: if simultaneous actions of two or more skaters cause a minor contact with no effect on the result, the referee may decide that no penalty is given to anyone.

The referee's decision on an infringement is final and cannot be protested. Sanctions are announced at the end of each race, before the official results.