What happens when a taekwondo athlete or coach behaves badly?
A · Advanced · Penalties · 3 of 5Misconduct by the athlete or the coach costs the athlete a gam-jeom. For excessive misconduct the referee raises a yellow card, which asks the Competition Supervisory Board to investigate and decide on a sanction. The referee may end the match against an athlete who keeps refusing to obey. Tampering with the scoring sensors means disqualification.
How it works
- Disobeying: not complying with the referee's command or decision.
- Protesting: "Inappropriate protesting behavior to officials' decisions".
- Interfering: trying to disturb or influence the outcome of the match.
- Insults: provoking or insulting the opposing athlete or coach.
- The doctor's seat: an unaccredited doctor or another team official found sitting in the doctor's position.
- Anything else: any other severe misconduct or unsporting conduct.
- The yellow card: a "sanction request" for excessive misconduct. The Competition Supervisory Board investigates.
- Ending the match: if an athlete "intentionally and repeatedly refuses to comply", the referee may raise the yellow card and declare the opponent the winner.
- Sensor tampering: an athlete or coach who has tried to alter the sensitivity of the sensors is dealt with by disqualifying the athlete.
- The result code: a loss for unsporting behaviour is DQB, and all of that athlete's results are removed.
The glossary has the penalty entry, gam-jeom, the disqualification entry, the referee, the protector and scoring system and the prohibited acts entry.
Tricky cases
Is a yellow card a penalty in itself?
No. It is the referee's request for a sanction. The Competition Supervisory Board decides whether one is appropriate.
A coach stands and shouts at the judges after a decision. What does it cost?
A gam-jeom against the coach's athlete, and a yellow card if the referee judges it excessive.
A team's physiotherapist sits in the doctor's seat without doctor's accreditation. Is that a foul?
Yes. It is listed as misconduct and is penalised with a gam-jeom.
An athlete is found to have altered a sensing sock. What follows?
Disqualification. The result is recorded as DQB and their earlier results at the event are removed.
Why the rule exists
A contest decided by sensors and a few officials depends on both being left alone to work. The athlete carries the penalty for the coach because they compete as one side, and a coach who could protest freely would do so for every close call.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Misconduct in a round | Gam-jeom against the athlete | WT Article 14.4.1.13 |
| Excessive misconduct | Yellow card and an investigation | WT Article 14.4.2 |
| Repeated refusal to comply | The referee may end the match | WT Article 14.5 |
| Misconduct in the rest period | Recorded in the next round after five seconds | WT Article 14 Explanation 1 |
From the rule book
World Taekwondo, Competition Rules & Interpretation (in force 1 June 2026), Articles 14.4.1.13, 14.4.2, 14.5 and 14.6, and Article 16 Explanation 7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WT Competition Rules & Interpretation, 1 June 2026 (PDF).