Is a decathlete disqualified for one false start?
I · Intermediate · How the events differ · 3 of 7No.
How it works
- The rule: in the track events "only one false start per race shall be allowed without the disqualification of the athlete(s) responsible for the false start".
- After that: "Any athlete(s) responsible for further false starts in the race shall be disqualified by the Starter."
- The card: after the first false start a yellow and black card is shown to the athlete responsible, and all the other athletes in the race are warned.
- It belongs to the race: the warning covers everyone on the start line. The second false start disqualifies whoever makes it.
- What a false start is: the same as in any race. The athlete began the start before the gun.
- What is lost: the athlete is disqualified from that race, so they have no time to score. They stay in the combined event.
- A new race, a new allowance: the rule speaks of one false start "per race", so a different heat or a later event starts afresh.
Tricky cases
One athlete false starts in a decathlon 100 m, and at the second attempt a different athlete does. Who is disqualified?
The second athlete. After the first false start, anyone responsible for another is disqualified.
A heptathlete is disqualified for a false start in the 200 m. Is their heptathlon over?
No. They went to the start, so they have not abandoned the competition. They score nothing for the 200 m and continue.
A decathlete was warned for a false start in the 100 m. Does the warning carry over to the 400 m?
No. The allowance is one false start in each race.
Why the rule exists
In an individual sprint, a disqualified athlete loses one race. In a decathlon they would lose a tenth of two days' work over a twitch. One warning to the whole field softens that while still stopping athletes from guessing the gun, since nobody knows who will make the second false start.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules, combined events | As above | TR 39.8.3; TR 16.9 |
| Individual track events | Any athlete responsible for a false start is disqualified at once | TR 16.8 |
| Who decides | The starter | CR 22.7 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 16.7 to 16.9, 39.8.3 and 39.10 and Competition Rule 22.7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).