SECTION X - WORLD RECORDS

This section contains:
 
RULE 260 - World Records
RULE 261 - Events for which World Records are recognised
RULE 262 - Events for which World Junior Records are recognised
RULE 263 - World Indoor Records
RULE 264 - Events for which World Indoor Records are recognised

RULE 260 - World Records

1. When a World Record is set by an athlete or a team, the IAAF Member in the country where the record performance was set shall collect together, without delay, all the information required for ratification of the record by the IAAF. No performance shall be regarded as a World Record until it has been ratified by the IAAF. The Member should immediately inform the IAAF of its intention to submit the performance.

2. Each athlete who sets a World Record must submit to doping control, at the end of the event, in accordance with the IAAF Rules currently in force. In the case of a Relay record, all members of the team must be tested.
 
The result of this test shall be presented by an IOC accredited laboratory to the IAAF to be added to the other information required by the IAAF for the ratification of the record. If such a test is positive, the IAAF shall not ratify this record.

3. If an athlete has admitted that, at some time prior to achieving a World Record, he had used or taken advantage of a substance or technique prohibited at that time, then, subject to the advice of the Doping Commission, such record will not continue to be regarded as a World Record by the IAAF.

4. The official application form of the IAAF shall be completed and despatched by air mail to the IAAF Bureau within thirty days. Forms are available, on request, from the IAAF Bureau. If the application concerns a foreign athlete or a foreign team, a duplicate of the form shall be sent within the same period to the Member Federation of the athlete or team. Application may be made only on behalf of an athlete or athletes who are under the jurisdiction of a Member of the IAAF.

5. The Member of the country where the record was set shall send, with the official application form:
 
(a) The printed programme of the meeting;
(b) The complete results of the event;
(c) The photo finish photograph in the case of a track record where fully automatic timekeeping was in operation.

6. The following categories of World Records are accepted by IAAF:
 
-World Records;
-World Junior Records;
-World Indoor Records (see Rule 263).
 
(a) World Records shall be made in an athletic facility, which conforms to Rule 140 with or without roof. A running track or runway used shall be laid on top of a solid foundation.
 
(b) The record shall be made in a bona fide competition which has been duly arranged, advertised and authorised before the day of the event by the IAAF Member where the event takes place. For individual events, at least three competitors and for relay events, at least two teams, must participate in the event.
 
(c) The record shall be better than, or equal to the existing World Record for that event, as accepted by the IAAF.
 
(d) Records made in heats or qualifying competitions, in deciding ties and in individual events in Combined Events competitions, regardless of whether the athlete completes the whole Combined Events competition or not, may be submitted for ratification.
 
(e) No performance set by an athlete will be recognised if it has been accomplished during a mixed competition.

7. For Junior Records, unless the athlete's date of birth has been previously confirmed by IAAF, the first application on behalf of that athlete shall be accompanied by a copy of his passport, birth certificate or similar official document which confirms his date of birth.

8. (a) Running and Race Walking records may be made only on a track which conforms to Rule 160.
 
(b) A race shall be stated to be over one distance only and all competitors shall compete at that distance.
 
However, a race based on the distance covered over a given time may be combined with a race over a fixed distance (for example, 1 Hour and 20,000m - see Rule 164.4).
 
It is permissible for the same athlete to accomplish in the same race any number of records. It is permitted for several athletes to accomplish different records in the same race.
 
However, it is not permissible for an athlete to be credited with a record at a shorter distance if he did not finish the full distance of that race.
 
(c) Running and Race Walking records shall be timed by official timekeepers or by an approved fully automatic photo finish device (see Rule 165).
 
For races up to and including 400m, only performances timed by an approved fully automatic photo finish device conforming to the relevant sections of Rule 165 shall be accepted, including a video-based system.
 
For a World Record broken during a competition held under Rule 12.1(a), (b) and (c) and, if possible, (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h), the Organiser should provide a photograph of the relevant section of the finish in order that the time read by the Chief Photo Finish Judge can be confirmed before the official announcement of the result. The same shall apply for all track events in a Combined Events competition.
 
(d) For any record at any distance of 200m or more to be recognised, the track on which it was made shall not exceed 440 yards and the race shall have started on some part of the perimeter. This limitation does not apply to the Steeplechase events where the Water Jump is placed outside a normal 400m track.
 
(e) The record shall be made on a track, the radius of the outside lane of which does not exceed 50m, except where the bend is formed with two different radii, in which case the longer of the two arcs should not account for more than 60° of the 180° turn.
 
(f) For all records up to and including 200m, information concerning wind speed, measured as indicated in Rule 163.8, 9 & 10, shall be submitted. If the wind velocity measured in the direction of running behind the competitor averages more than 2 metres per second, the record will not be accepted.
 
(g) In a race run in lanes, no record will be accepted where the runner has run on or inside the inner curved border of his lane.
 
(h) A Relay record may be made only by a team, all of whose members are citizens of a single Member country. Citizenship may be obtained in any of the ways referred to in Rule 12.10. A colony which is not a separate Member of the IAAF shall be deemed, for the purpose of this Rule, to be part of its Mother Country.
 
(i) The time set by the first runner in a relay team may not be submitted as a record.
 
(j) The reaction times, where available shall be provided in all races where a crouch start and the use of starting blocks are compulsory.

9. For Race Walking Records:
At least two Judges who are from either the IAAF Panel of International Race Walking Judges or are Area Level Judges shall be officiating during the competition and shall sign the application form.

10. (a) Records in Field Events shall be measured either by three Field Judges using a calibrated and certified steel tape or bar or by an approved scientific measuring apparatus, the accuracy of which has been confirmed by a qualified Measurement Judge.
 
(b) In the Long Jump and Triple Jump, information concerning wind speed, measured as indicated in Rule 184.4, 5 & 6 shall be submitted. If the wind velocity measured in the direction of jumping behind the competitor averages more than 2 metres per second, the record will not be accepted.
 
(c) In Field Events, World Records may be credited for more than one performance in a competition, provided that each record so recognised shall have been equal or superior to the best previous performance at that moment.

11. The conditions imposed for recognising a Combined Events Record shall have been complied with in each of the individual events, except that, in events where wind velocity is measured, at least one of the following conditions shall be satisfied:
 
(i) The velocity in any individual event shall not exceed plus 4 metres per second.
(ii) The average velocity (based on the sum of the wind velocities, as measured for each individual event, divided by the number of such events) shall not exceed plus 2 metres per second.

12. The President and the General Secretary of the IAAF together are authorised to recognise World Records. If they are in any doubt whether or not the record should be accepted, the case shall be referred to the Council for decision.
 
When a World Record has been ratified, the IAAF will so inform the athlete's Member Federation, the Federation applying for the record and the relevant Area Association. If the record is not ratified the reasons will be given.

13. The IAAF shall publish a list of World Records on 1 January of each year. This list shall represent the performances regarded by the IAAF as being, from the date of the list, the best performances yet set by an athlete or team of athletes in each of the recognised events listed in Rules 261, 262 and 264. The list shall be updated every time a new World Record has been ratified.
 
Note 1: The official World Record Plaques, as designed by the IAAF for presentation to World Record Holders, will be supplied by the IAAF.
 
Note 2: It is recommended that National Governing Bodies and Area Associations adopt similar Rules to the above for the recognition of their own records.

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RULE 261 - Events for which World Records are recognised

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RULE 262 - Events for which World Junior Records are recognised

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RULE 263 - World Indoor Records

1. With the following exceptions, Rule 260 shall apply to World Indoor Records.

2. The record shall have been made in a stadium, which complies, with Rule 211.
 
For races of 200m and over, the oval track may not have a nominal length of more than 220 yards.

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RULE 264 - Events for which World Indoor Records are recognised

RULE 263 - World Indoor Records

1. With the following exceptions, Rule 260 shall apply to World Indoor Records.

2. The record shall have been made in a stadium, which complies, with Rule 211.
 
For races of 200m and over, the oval track may not have a nominal length of more than 220 yards.

RULE 264 - Events for which World Indoor Records are recognised

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