What may a thrower put on their hands?

Not allowed:

• Fingers taped together: "The taping of two or more fingers together." Tape on the hands and fingers may be continuous, provided no two fingers are bound so that they cannot move on their own. It should be shown to the chief judge before the event.
• Devices: "any device of any kind, including weights attached to the body, which in any way provides assistance when making a trial".
• Gloves: "The use of gloves except in the Hammer Throw."
• Body fluids: spitting on an implement, or putting body fluids on it in any other way.
• Chalk on the javelin: "The placement by an athlete, in the Javelin Throw, on the implement, of chalk or a similar substance." This was added in 2026.

Allowed:

• On the hands: "a suitable substance on their hands only".
• Taping: tape on the hands and fingers that does not bind fingers together.
• Easily removed: anything used on the hands, gloves or implements must come off the implement with a wet cloth and leave no residue.
• Tape on a shoe: a note added in 2026 says tape on the outside of a throwing shoe is acceptable and should be shown to the chief judge first.

If the judges notice a breach they tell the athlete to put it right. If the athlete does not, the trial is a failure. A trial completed before the breach was noticed is also a failure. Serious cases may be dealt with as misconduct.

Grip is part of the skill, so the rule allows what keeps a hand dry and stops what would do the hand's work for it. Fingers taped together act as one stronger lever. Chalk on a javelin stays on it for the next thrower, which is one reason to keep it on the hand only.