Can an athlete step off the track and carry on?
I · Intermediate · Running and finishing · 3 of 6An athlete who leaves the track voluntarily may not continue and is recorded as not finishing. If they try to re-enter the race they are disqualified. Athletes are also expected to compete with honest effort, and one who does not may be warned, disqualified or kept out of their other events.
How it works
- Leaving: "An athlete, after voluntarily leaving the track ... shall not be allowed to continue in the race and shall be recorded as not finishing the event."
- Coming back: "Should the athlete attempt to re-enter the race, they shall be disqualified by the Referee."
- Voluntarily: an athlete pushed or forced off the track has not left voluntarily.
- The codes: DNF means did not finish, DNS did not start and DQ disqualified.
- Honest effort: athletes "shall participate in athletics competitions with bona fide effort". One who does not may be warned or disqualified.
- Other events: at major competitions an athlete who "failed to compete honestly with bona fide effort" is excluded from all their further events in the competition, relays included.
- Not starting: the same exclusion applies to an athlete who confirmed they would start and then did not, or who qualified for a later round and did not run it.
- Medical reasons: a medical certificate from the competition's doctor may be accepted as a reason, so that the athlete can still compete on a later day.
Tricky cases
A runner stops with cramp, stands on the infield for a few seconds and jogs on. Is the result valid?
No. Having left the track voluntarily they may not continue, and trying to rejoin means disqualification.
A runner is knocked off the track and steps straight back on. Are they disqualified?
No. The rule is about leaving voluntarily.
An athlete jogs through a heat to save energy for another event. Can they be punished?
Yes. The referee may decide they did not compete with honest effort, and they can be excluded from their other events.
Is DNF the same as DQ?
No. DNF means the athlete did not finish. DQ means they were disqualified for breaking a rule, and the result shows which rule.
Why the rule exists
A race is one continuous effort over one measured distance. An athlete who steps off and back on has broken that, even if no ground was gained. The honest-effort rule protects other athletes and the event from an entrant who starts with no intention of racing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 17.6; TR 7.1; TR 4.4 |
| Road races and race walks | An athlete may leave the course with permission and under supervision if the distance is not shortened | TR 54.12; TR 55.9 |
| Combined events | The honest-effort exclusion does not apply to the individual events within a combined event | TR 4.4.3 (note) |
| Call room | An athlete who is not in the call room at the published time is shown as DNS | TR 4.5 |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 4.4, 4.5, 7.1 and 17.6 and Competition Rule 25.5. Rules 54.12 and 55.9 are cited from the cross-reference in rule 17. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).