IAAF Council Press Briefing

More than two hundred proposals to change existing competition rules were
put on the table during the IAAF Council meeting here in Edmonton, Canada ,
30 July. And it was a solemn Istvan Gyulai, the IAAF Secretary General, who
met with reporters to deliver the council's recommendations.

Most notable was the announcement that the IAAF council is recommending one
false start be charged to the field in sprint and hurdle races up to 400m
and anyone false starting thereafter be automatically disqualified.
Although the rule would not be implemented in championships until January
2003 athletes could encounter the rule change during invitational meetings,
so they can become accustomed to it.

Council also discussed the controversial move to reduce the number of
attempts in vertical jumps from three to two. Athletes have not taken
kindly to this and in Hengelo the pole vaulters actually staged a sit down
strike in protest. Council has decided not to support such a rule change.

Meanwhile Council WILL support a proposal to reduce the number of rounds in
the horizontal jumps from six to four for international competitions but
not for Olympic and world championship competition.  The primary objective
is to shorten athletics meetings to make them more spectator and television
friendly. The issue of reducing the amount of time allowed for each jump or
throw was also raised and so too was the notion of lowering the number of
competitors in finals. Mr. Gyulai also revealed the IAAF would like to see
more field events in the major invitational meetings.

The General Secretary then turned his attention to the race walks which
have suffered from dramatic disqualifications during tight contests. A
proposal to allow the chief judge to disqualify any competitor for
"running" once they have entered the stadium - even if he or she has had no
prior warnings - will be put before congress. Currently three warnings are
necessary before the athlete is disqualified.

On 31 July and 1 August, 2001 the IAAF Congress was to review the Council's
recommendations on these matters.

Among other decisions taken during the closed door session was the change
in date of the 9th  IAAF World Championships in Paris to August 22-31,
2003. And, they have also decided that technical delegates can approve the
participation of non-qualified athletes in the world championships.

A question was raised by a reporter on the matter of Russian 1500m runner
Olga Yegorova's positive test for the banned substance EPO. It has been
reported that she still expects to compete in Edmonton. However, Mr. Gyulai
was very clear she will not be competing if her B sample is also positive.

On a more positive note,  the General Secretary  stated "Council is very
satisfied with the local organizing committee. Ticket sales are going well
and in Edmonton we have a family feeling which we would probably not have
in a bigger city."
News Team mj