NACAC want ‘one false start’ rule overturned

NATIONAL Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA) president Ken Doldron and other countries in the North American, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) want the “one false start” rule reviewed.

Doldron and others are seeking to have the IAAF revert to the previous rule, allowing  an athlete to enjoy one false start and still have the opportunity to compete in any race. From January this year, the International Athletics Associations Federation (IAAF) instituted the new rule disqualifying athletes immediately on “breaking the gun,” This ruling has not found favour with athletics officials and coaches but more importantly, athletes who have suffered under the new one and done rule. Doldron disclosed that at the NACAC convention in Grenada on July 6, during the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) senior championships, a resolution was passed to ask the IAAF at the World Congress in Paris to review the one false start rule. He also accused the IAAF of attempting to ostracise small countries from the relays at Olympics Games. He said: “The IAAF wants to eliminate the less established athletics nations from giving their athletes greater exposure at  the highest level by introducing a new system to allow the top 16 teams in the relays to qualify for the 2003 Athens Olympics. “By doing this there will be no qualifying heats but two straight semi-finals.

The thinking is that with the possibility of poor baton exchange or even dropping the implement or running out of lanes during the transition phase or round the bends will allow other teams to capitalise and get to the medal rounds.” The proposed opposition to the “Elite 16,” which will create a disadvantage for other nations, was moved by Barbadian Steve Stoute and seconded by Doldron. The resolution was eventually passed and Doldron and his NACAC colleagues will be drumming up support for their position from delegates of  the expected 210 countries to be represented at the World Congress, which starts tomorrow and ends on Friday. Doldron heads the TT delegation which includes senior vice-president George Commissiong, team manager, and Dr Ian Hypolite, coach. At the congress, the NAAA boss will also be seeking further financial help from the IAAF to ensure Trinidad and Tobago athletes get the opportunity to compete at all major regional and international championships. Doldron said that the NAAA plan hosting two important development seminars for next year. And in their effort to facilitate all officials to get an equal opportunity of enhancing and upgrading their knowledge and expertise in athletics, both programmes will be conducted in sister-island Tobago. The Technical Officiating Educational Certification System (TOECS) seminar is scheduled for February, while the IAAF Level I Coaching Certificate programme seminar will be staged during the months of July and August.