Who makes the decisions in bobsleigh?
A · Advanced · The sled and officials · 2 of 3A jury of a president and two members, with technical delegates and material controllers, runs each IBSF race. Its decisions are final and take effect at once. Only a team captain may protest, by telling the jury within 5 minutes of the heat in question and then in writing within 20 minutes of the race, with a €100 fee.
How it works
- Jury: a president and two members, with technical delegates and material controllers.
- Final say: the jury's decision is final and immediate.
- Jury decides: sled and runner changes, repeat heats, cuts in the field, penalties, protests, track closure.
- Race director: runs the event under the jury, including sunshades and sweeping.
- Protest, step one: verbal, within 5 minutes of the heat.
- Protest, step two: written grounds within 20 minutes of the race, with €100.
- No verbal protest: no written protest is accepted later.
- Sanctions: a warning, a fine, disqualification or a request to suspend or remove the licence.
The glossary has the protest, the DSQ, the DQB, the official training, the quota and the track.
Tricky cases
A captain forgets to protest after the heat but writes in later. Accepted?
No. Without a verbal protest within 5 minutes, no written protest is accepted.
Can several nations protest together?
No. Collective protests are not allowed.
Who breaks a tie in a jury vote?
The jury president; jury assistants do not vote.
Can a heat be rerun after a timing failure?
Yes, if the fault was not the team's and the jury allows it.
Why the rule exists
A small jury on site can decide quickly between heats. Requiring an immediate verbal protest means a team cannot wait to see the final result before complaining.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Olympics | Two or three material controllers | IBSF 6.3.1 |
| Continental cups | One or two jury members | IBSF 6.3.4 |
| Sanctioned races | A single jury president or delegate | IBSF 6.3.5 |
From the rule book
IBSF, International Rules Bobsleigh (September 2026), articles 6, 7, 8.10, 10.6.10, 10.6.11 and 10.19. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBSF International Rules, issued each season.