How do I give a disqualification, and what can the athlete protest?

Disqualification (World Triathlon rule 3.6) is for severe violations, such as repeated drafting or dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct. If time and conditions allow:

1. sound your whistle;
2. show a red card;
3. call the athlete's number in English and say "Disqualified".

For safety reasons you may have to delay giving it. The athlete may still finish the race. Disqualified athletes' numbers are posted on the white board in the post-finish area. If an athlete is disqualified after finishing and it wasn't posted, the athlete or their national federation must be contacted, and they have 5 days to tell the Technical Delegate if they want to appeal.

What can be protested (rule 3.9):

• Drafting penalties cannot be protested.
• A time penalty the athlete has served can't be protested: serving it means accepting it.
• An athlete who doesn't serve another time penalty is disqualified at the finish, but may protest the disqualification and the Head Referee's decision. The Competition Jury then dismisses the protest, or upholds it and reverses the disqualification.
• Evidence is only made available if a protest is lodged. You are not required to give a reason when you give a time penalty (rule 3.5).

Who decides: the Head Referee makes the final judgement on rule violations and signs the results to make them official.