What do the yellow and red cards mean in athletics?
I · Intermediate · Rounds, penalties and kit · 8 of 8There are two kinds of disqualification. For breaking a technical rule, such as a lane fault, the athlete loses that round's result and may still compete in other events. For unsporting conduct the referee shows a yellow card to warn and a red card to exclude. Two yellows make a red, and the athlete is out of the whole competition.
How it works
- Conduct: athletes "shall participate in athletics competitions with bona fide effort and shall not engage in unsporting or improper conduct". One who does not may be warned or disqualified.
- Yellow card: a warning from the referee.
- Red card: exclusion from the event.
- Two yellows: a second yellow card in the same competition is followed at once by a red.
- Straight red: the referee may exclude without a warning where the circumstances justify it.
- After a conduct disqualification: the athlete is disqualified from that event and may take no further part in the competition, including other events and relays. Earlier results stay.
- A technical disqualification: any performance in that round of the event is not valid. Performances in earlier rounds and in other events remain valid, and the athlete may still take part in other events.
- In the results: DQ is followed by the number of the rule that was broken. YC, YRC and RC mark a yellow card, a second yellow and a red.
- Who decides: the referee for the event. Umpires report to the referee and have no power to make final decisions.
Tricky cases
An athlete is disqualified for a lane fault in the semi-final. Is their heat time wiped out?
No. Only the performance in the round of the disqualification is lost. Earlier rounds remain valid.
An athlete is disqualified for a false start in one event. Can they run another event later that day?
Yes. A disqualification for breaking a technical rule does not stop an athlete taking part in further events.
Does a red card always need a yellow card first?
No. The referee may exclude an athlete without a warning where the circumstances justify it.
An athlete gets a yellow card in one event on Friday and another in a different event on Saturday. What happens?
They are disqualified from the second event and from everything that follows in that competition.
Why the rule exists
Breaking a technical rule usually means an athlete got something wrong in one race, so the penalty stays with that race. Bad conduct is about the person, so the penalty follows the person through the whole competition.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Athletics rules | As above | TR 7 |
| Assistance | An athlete who gives or receives help is warned and, on a repeat, disqualified from that event | TR 6.2 |
| Serious offences | The competition director reports the case for possible further disciplinary action | TR 7.5 |
| Events outside the stadium | The referee should give a warning before disqualifying wherever practicable | TR 7.1 (note ii) |
From the rule book
World Athletics, Competition and Technical Rules, 2026 Edition, Technical Rules 6.2 and 7 with the commentary printed under rule 7, and Competition Rules 20.1 and 25.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Athletics Competition and Technical Rules 2026 (PDF).