Who decides on warnings and disqualifications at the start: the starter, a recaller or the referee?
Rule- South Africa
- Athletics South Africa
- World Athletics rules
- WA Technical Rules 2026
- Track and field
- Starters
- Officials
- All ages
- 2026/27
Under World Athletics Competition Rule 22:
- Starter: has entire control of the athletes on their marks and is responsible for a fair and equitable start. Only the starter decides false start warnings and disqualifications (TR 16.8 and 39.8.3).
- Recallers: one or more must be assigned. For the 200m, 300m hurdles, 400m, 400m hurdles and the 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m, medley, 4 x 400m and mixed relays there must be at least two. A recaller may recall or abort a start but can't act alone afterwards; they report what they saw to the starter.
- Start referee: decides disciplinary matters (such as delaying or disturbing the start) and can overrule the starter's decision on whether a start was fair.
- Start coordinator: allocates and supervises the start team, tells the starter when timing, judges and (for races up to 200m) the wind gauge are ready, and keeps the start records, including reaction-time printouts.
Added 22 Oct 2026