What counts as a false start, and what is the penalty?
I · Intermediate · The event and the start · 1 of 9An athlete who begins their start before the gun has made a false start and is disqualified by the starter. There is no first warning, except in combined events. In a standing start, the start has begun when a foot leaves the ground.
How it works
- The rule: after taking the final starting position, an athlete "shall not commence their start until after receiving the report of the gun".
- What counts in a standing start: "any motion that results in one or both feet losing contact with the ground".
- Losing balance: athletes starting on their feet are more likely to overbalance. If the movement is considered accidental, "the start should be regarded as 'unsteady'" and nobody is penalised.
- Pushed over the line: an athlete pushed or jostled over the line before the start is not penalised. The athlete who did the pushing may be.
- Rolling starts: a movement begun before the gun and carried on into the start is also a false start.
- Other movement: any other motion is not the beginning of a start. It may still bring a warning for conduct.
- The penalty: "any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified by the Starter".
- The card: a card halved diagonally in red and black is raised in front of the athlete.
- The recall: the starter or a recaller stops the race by firing the gun again.
- Only the one responsible: when one athlete goes early, others often follow. The starter penalises only those who, in their opinion, were responsible.
- Nobody at fault: if the recall was not caused by any athlete, a green card is shown to all and there are no warnings.
Tricky cases
A runner wobbles forward and a foot comes off the ground before the gun. Are they disqualified?
It depends on the starter's judgement. If the movement is considered accidental, the start is called unsteady and is taken again with no penalty.
A runner is pushed over the line by the athlete beside them. Is that a false start?
No. The pushed athlete should not be penalised. The athlete who caused it may be warned or disqualified for conduct.
Does everyone get one free false start?
No. The athlete responsible is disqualified at the first one. Combined events are the exception.
Can an athlete who is sure they did not false start still run?
It depends on the referee. After an immediate spoken protest the referee may let the athlete run "under protest" if in doubt. That is not normally allowed when a certified start system showed the false start.
Why the rule exists
Under earlier rules a field could be allowed a false start, and athletes used it to unsettle each other and gamble on the gun. Disqualifying at the first one removed the gamble. The 0.100 second figure is the rule book's line for the fastest reaction it accepts as a response to the gun.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 16.6 to 16.10 |
| Combined events | The first false start in a race brings a warning for everyone, shown with a yellow and black card. Anyone responsible for a later one is disqualified | TR 16.9; TR 39.8.3 |
| Without a start information system | The starter and recallers judge by eye | TR 16.7 |
| Records | For records up to 400 m the blocks must be linked to a certified start system | CR 31.14.4 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 8.4.1 and 16.6 to 16.10 and Competition Rule 22.7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).