ATHLETIC SHOEREGULATIONSFREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS

www.worldathletics.org

Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Athletes ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Officials & Event Organisers ............................................................................................................................................................................7
Shoe Manufacturers...............................................................................................................................................................................................9
Appendix 1 - Approval Process .................................................................................................................................................................13
Appendix 2 - Shoe Control Check (see also Shoe Control Guidelines) ..........................................................................14

Introduction
Over the last years, World Athletics, led by the Working Group on Athletic Shoes and in collaboration with
the World Federation for the Sporting Goods Industry, has been developing the approach for the
regulation of athletic shoes. On 1 January 2022, World Athletics introduced its consolidated new set of
regulations which can be found at: https://www.worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/book-of-rules,
under section ‘Book C: Competition’ C2.1A.
The purpose of this document is to answer frequently asked questions whether you are an athlete, official/ event organiser, shoe manufacturer, or Member Federation. These Frequently Asked Questions are for
guidance purposes only and do not replace the Athletic Shoe Regulations. If you have any questions or
queries not covered in this document, please email to rules@worldathletics.org.

Athletes•

Do I need to know the brand and model of my shoe?

Yes, you need to be able to identify your competition shoe on the List of Approved Athletic Shoes foryour event or, if the shoe was manufactured before 1 January 2016, to know its brand and model nameand to be able to prove that it was already available before 1 January 2016. It is your responsibility tomake sure you are wearing an approved shoe.

•

Where can I find the List of Approved Athletic Shoes?

The List of Approved Athletic Shoes is available at https://certcheck.worldathletics.org. It is updated withevery shoe being approved.

•

What happens if I cannot find my shoe on the list?

In most cases, the shoe is currently not approved, either because the manufacturer has not submitted an
application for it, or because the application is still ongoing or because the shoe is not compliant. In thesecases, you may not wear the shoe in any World Rankings Competitions.
It might also be possible that the shoe was manufactured prior to 1 January 2016, in which case it isdeemed to be compliant. However, in this case, it is your responsibility to provide a proof that it was
already available before 1 January 2016.

•

What is the process for getting a shoe approved and how long does it take?

The process diagrams in Appendices 1 & 2 of the Athletic Shoe Regulations set out the procedure andtimelines for getting shoes approved. The shoe manufacturers normally handle the process for submitting
an athletic shoe for approval because the process involves the provision of technical details which usually
only the manufacturer has.

•

Which athletes do the Regulations apply to?

The Regulations apply to all athletes who participate in World Rankings Competitions. World Athletics’position is that the rules are not intended to cover those club, school, college or masters levelcompetitions where the level of competition may not be relevant for international statistical purposes andwhere, therefore, Rules and Regulations may deviate from those in force at World Athletics.
For example, the Regulations will apply to:• World Athletics Series Events;• Athletics programmes of: the Olympic Games; FISU World University Games; CommonwealthGames; Various Continental or Regional Multi-Sport Games• Invitation Meetings such as Diamond League; World Indoor Tour; Continental Tour; Combined
Events Tour; Race Walking Tour; Cross-Country Tour; National Permit competitions where theresults are expected to be considered for international statistical purposes• National Championships, or any other competition where World Rankings points can be obtained.

•

Selected Road Races, examples:

Asia
EuropeNorth America, central
America and Caribbean
South America
AfricaOceania•

Abbott WMM(Platinum)
Tokyo
Marathon
TCS London
Marathon
BostonMarathon
n/a
n/a
n/a

Other WA
Platinum

Other WA Label Race

Non-Label Road Race

ShanghaiMarathon
Valencia
MarathonAmazing Thailand
Marathon Bangkok

Ho Chi Minh City
MarathonMarathon de La Rochelle

n/aPittsburgh Half Marathon

n/a
n/a
n/a

Buenos Aires Marathon
Lagos Marathon
Sydney Marathon

Marathon de Paris

Calgary Marathon
Maraton de Santiago
Eldoret City Marathon
Melbourne Marathon

What is a Development Shoe and what competitions can they be worn in?

A Development Shoe is a prototype that a shoe manufacturer would like to test in competitions before
introducing them into the retail market. Shoe manufacturers provide them to their sponsored andsupported athletes for testing. A Development Shoe can be worn in all World Rankings Competitions
except World Series Events and Olympic Games, provided the shoe is listed on the List of Approved
Athletic Shoes for that specific event.

•

How can I purchase a pair of shoes on the List of Approved Athletic Shoes?

Athletic shoes are consumer products and, as such, the best way is to go through any official sales channel
including the manufacturer’s website to purchase the shoe.

•

There is a shoe I really wanted to purchase, but it’s sold out. Can World Athletics get
the shoe for me or have the manufacturer to supply the shoe?

As shoes are consumer products, World Athletics cannot force a manufacturer to produce further stock.
This is a business decision for the manufacturer according to their costs and demands for the shoes.
Athletes can wait for the shoe to be re-stocked or choose another shoe to purchase from the List of
Approved Athletic Shoes.

•

Why is there a ‘Shoe Control’ check and what does it involve?

Details about Shoe Control are provided in Regulation 14 of the Athletic Shoe Regulations, in the Shoe
Control Guidelines and in Appendix 2 below.

•

What happens if I am requested to go to shoe control?

The Shoe Control Officer will simply take note of who you are, may photograph your shoes and record ifthey are on the List of Approved Athletic Shoes for your event or not. The purpose is to identify yourshoe not to measure or examine it. However, your shoe might be collected and sent to World Athletics forfurther examination by an Independent Expert, which may include the shoe to be cut.
It is a requirement to always keep your shoes with you even after you have finished competing in case
you are required to go to shoe control.

•What happens if my shoe cannot be identified or is not approved?

The potential consequences and sanctions are defined in the Athletic Shoe Regulations, in particular in
Regulation 14 and 15, and may include the result to be classified as ‘Uncertified’ (‘UNC TR5.2’) or theathlete to be disqualified and the performance to be declared invalid with all resulting consequences.

•I am a mountain / trail runner, how do these Regulations apply to me?

The sole thickness table makes it clear that trail and mountain races do not have a limitation on sole
thickness of shoes (although other requirements of the Regulations must be complied with). However, as
these events are arranged by international Federations governing Trail and Mountain Races, you need tocheck which Rules apply to their events. Please refer to: https://iau-ultramarathon.org, https://itra.run andhttp://wmra.ch•

What’s the position regarding old shoes? Do they need to be approved?

Below is a table showing for which shoes approvals are required.
Date

Baseline Shoe

Customised Shoe

Development Shoe

Pre-1 January 2016

Deemed approved – no Must be submitted for Not applicable.
need to be submitted. review and approval.
(But proof of theexistence before 1
January 2016 must be
available.)

1 January 2016 – Must be submitted for Must be submitted for Not applicable.
30 January 2020
review and approval.
review and approval.
After 30 January Must be submitted for Must be submitted for must be submitted for2020 1 to present
review and approval.
review and approval.
review and approval.
If a manufacturer updates an Existing Shoe from before 1 January 2016 (except for a pure change of thecolourway), it is no longer considered as an Existing Shoe and must thus be submitted for review andapproval, too.

•Will my athletic shoe be collected post competition for further examination by anexpert?

Not necessarily, however, the Regulations provide power to Referees and Shoe Control Officers to ask
athletes to provide their shoes for further examination. If the shoe is collected, then they will be shipped
to an Independent Expert for further investigation (which may include the shoe to be cut). This is standard
procedure if you were to achieve a World Record, as it forms part of the World Record verification process.

•

What if I am an athlete who is competing in later rounds or events?

Athletes need to ensure they have spare approved shoes that they can wear in case their first pair iscollected.
If you are competing in later rounds or events of the same competition, then the Referee may authorisethat you keep them for these and can set further conditions concerning that.

This is the date when World Athletics first updated Technical Rule 5 concerning Athletic Shoes and introduced a set oftransition rules whilst the Working Group on Athletic Shoes was conducting its work.
1•

If my shoe is collected, will it be cut?

Given the nature of the rules and restrictions regarding plates and how they are constructed within a sole,
there may be no alternative way to examine other than cutting the shoe in case of doubt. Therefore, shoes
either submitted for approval or taken in at the end of a competition and sent to the Independent Expert
for further examination may be cut.

•Will my shoe be returned?

Yes, if you have requested it to be returned. You will be asked to provide contact details at the time yourshoe is collected. Please note that it may take a little while to return your shoe. Where possible, we will
try to return your shoe in person.

•

Can I wear bespoke or tailor-made shoes (i.e., shoes just made for me)?

No, bespoke and tailor-made shoes are not permitted under the Athletic Shoe Regulations.

•

If the shoe is customised, or I need an orthotic for medical and safety reasons, do I
need approval?

Yes, you can either do this directly or, if you are a sponsored / supported athlete, through your sponsor
manufacturer if they are willing to do this for you. We will need information about the medical / safetyissue that is causing the problem, a supporting letter or correspondence from a medical practitioner, themodel of the shoe, the changes that are required, and how the changes will prevent / support your issue.
This information needs to be submitted to rules@worldathletics.org – we do not issue clearance
certificates but will confirm in writing whether or not your request is approved.

•

Some manufacturers offer personalisation or enable me to choose my preferences (i.e.,
preferred upper, laces, colours, surface of the sole and design for example) of abaseline approved shoe. Do I need to get approval since these are consideredcustomisations?

It depends on the type of personalisation, as some changes do indeed need an approval (like any change
to the construction of the sole), while other changes do not need an approval (like a mere change of thecolour). Please refer to Regulation 7 of the Athletic Shoe Regulations for more details about customisation.

Officials & Event Organisers•

Do I need to arrange for shoes to be declared prior to a competition or race?

There is no requirement for you to request that athletes complete shoe declarations. It is voluntary, and if
you wish to do so, there is a template form available on the website. Athletes should, however, bereminded that they must compete in shoes in compliance with the Athletic Shoe Regulations and know
the brand and model of their shoe. If declarations are used, they have to be checked against the List of
Approved Athletic Shoes.

•

Do I need to conduct any checks in the Call Room?

No, due to the limited time in the Call Room, it is not a requirement to conduct checks in the Call Room.
However, all athletes must be reminded to keep their shoes with them once they have finished competing,because they may be subject to shoe control after the event.

•

How should Shoe Control be done?

Please refer to the Shoe Control Guidelines available on the website.

•

Does the Shoe Control Officer need to measure the sole thickness of a shoe?

No, the purpose is to record what shoe the athlete is wearing and identify it on the List of Approved
Athletic Shoes. No measurements of the shoes are required on site.

•

The athlete has been through Shoe Control and the shoe is not on the List of
Approved Athletic Shoes, what do we do?

The required steps are described in the Shoe Control Guidelines.

•

What happens if an athlete is found to have competed in a non-approved shoe?

Consequences and sanctions are defined in the Athletic Shoe Regulations. They may include the athlete
to be disqualified and the performance to be declared invalid with all resulting consequences.

•

The athlete needs to compete in later heats or other competitions, do we still need tocollect their shoe?

The Referee has a discretion to allow the athlete to compete in the shoe in subsequent rounds or heats
and determine how and under what conditions (e.g. mark the shoe and collect it after the next round).

•Does the Shoe Control Officer need to check for inserts (e.g., orthotics)? And if there
is one, do they need to mark this against the athletes’ results?

On the Shoe Check Form, there is a note to record and photograph orthotics. However, there is no further
action to be taken. World Athletics will review the information and decide next steps depending on thecircumstances.

•

In what circumstances must a shoe be collected for further investigation?

If a World Record is achieved the shoe must be collected (in case of a Relay, from all four members) andsent to World Athletics. However, collecting the shoes is not required for U20 World Records.
Otherwise, Referees or the Shoe Control Officer may collect the shoe where they believe it may notcomply with the letter or spirit of the Regulations.

•

Does World Athletics reimburse the courier costs for sending the shoes?

No, the costs of sending the shoes to World Athletics’ HQ (see address below) are to be met by the event
organiser / race organiser. World Athletics will arrange and cover the costs for the transfer of the shoes
to the Independent Expert.

•

Where do we need to send shoes to that have been collected at an event?

The Athletic Shoe must be sent by door-to-door courier to:World Athletics, Sandrine Prokopowicz, Competition and Events Department, 6-8, Quai Antoine 1er, BP
359, MC 98007, Monaco (Tel: +33607939993 or +37793108888).
Please remember to email the courier tracking number to rules@worldathletics.org. World Athletics will coordinate the transfer of the shoes to the Independent Expert.

Shoe Manufacturers•

Is the process of shoe approval confidential?

Yes. We can arrange individual non-disclosure agreements if needed. The Independent Expert is under acontractual obligation of confidentiality.

•

How do I get a New Shoe on to the List of Approved Athletic Shoes?

To get a New Shoe on to the List of Approved Athletic Shoes, an application (including the provision of
the required technical information and pictures of the shoe) must be submitted via an online platform.
Please send an email to rules@worldathletics.org if you need to create an account for the very first time.
The application process may require a sample of the shoe to be sent to World Athletics for further
examination by the Independent Expert.

•

Is it possible to discuss our ideas and plans for an initial view?

Yes, we are open to doing so, but on the basis that such discussions are without prejudice to the formal
shoe approval process.

•We wish to test a Development Shoe with our sponsored / supported athletes, how
do we do this? What happens after we have finished our testing?

The formal application process is the same as for New Shoes: An application (including the provision of
the required technical information and pictures of the shoe) must be submitted via the online platform.
The period within which a Development Shoe can be worn is 1 year and clearly indicated on the List of
Approved Athletic Shoes. If, during that period, the shoe specification is altered, a new application has tobe submitted. Once testing is completed (whether at the end of the 1-year period or before),
manufacturers may decide to introduce the shoe into the retail market. In this case, an application for a
New Shoe must be submitted including the details and specifications of the final version that actually
goes to the market.

•

Where are the 12% and 75% points of the shoes measured and are they to bemeasured with the shoe on a flat surface? How is this achieved with spike shoes?

Please see the diagrams below.

Please note that for spike shoes, close attention is paid to shoes containing ‘…one additional rigid structure
or other mechanism… solely to attach spikes to the outer underside of the shoe.’ As a result, we arefocussing on the interaction of the spike plate with the rest of the sole, the internal rigid structure (if it hasone), the length of the spike plate, the material it is made from etc. Therefore, manufacturers should expectthat spike shoes with these characteristics take a little longer to approve.

•

Can you provide further examples of embedded ‘sensing or intelligent’ technology?

It is not possible to define the technology precisely. However, it is technology that triggers a change inthe state of the shoe e.g., its stiffness etc.

•

What’s the definition of ‘Available for Purchase’?

This is set out in Appendix 4 of the Athletic Shoe Regulations.

•

Availability of Shoes – what’s the length of time a New Shoe needs to be Available
for Purchase?

New Shoes must be Available for Purchase at least one month before they can be worn in World Rankings
Competitions.

•

What happens with an Existing Shoe which is no longer sold or a New Shoe which issold out?

Appendix 4 of the Athletic Shoe Regulations state that the availability of shoes is subject to stock. Thereis no requirement for a manufacturer / retailer to re-stock a shoe once it is sold out.

•

We are having supply chain issues due to issues outside of our control which is causing
our shoes to be delayed in getting to market, what can we do?

Contact World Athletics, and raise the issue also with WFSGI as it is possible that other manufacturers
are facing the same issues. World Athletics will assess the situation and respond accordingly.

•We’re not planning to launch a specific shoe until sometime later, can we still get anapproval for this shoe now?

You can submit an application and get the confirmation that the shoe complies from a technical point ofview, but the shoe will not be shown as being approved on the List of Approved Athletic Shoes, i.e. theshoe cannot be worn in World Rankings Competitions at this point in time. However, once the shoe isfinally released and Available for Purchase for one month, it will show on the List of Approved Athletic
Shoes as being approved.

Appendix 1 - Approval Process
World Athletics will use reasonable efforts to complete the approval process as soon as practicable (ifpossible, within 30 days of receipt of the shoe by the Independent Expert). However, the specifictimeline will depend on several factors with some of them being out of the control of World Athletics(e.g. missing information in the application, delays in the shipment of the sample etc.)

Manufacturer/ Athlete

World
Athletics

World
Athletics

World
Athletics• Submit completed application form on the online
platform (including photographs of the shoe)• For customizations, provide required information(medical/safety information) by email for review• Physical shoe may be requested to be submitted• If approved and added to the List of Approved
Athletic Shoes - shoe can be worn in the specified
events• If not approved or further dialogue needed with
manufacturer / athlete - shoe cannot be worn

• For customizations, athlete will be notified in writing
whether the application was approved

Appendix 2 - Shoe Control Check (see also Shoe Control Guidelines)
For all events.
(For World Athletics Series Events, World Athletics will appoint the Shoe Control Officer.)• Shoe Control Officer conducts spot checks to identify shoes
post competition• Collects World Record shoes & may collect other shoes . If
Shoe Control shoe collected, Shoe Receipt Form to be signed and a copy
provided to the athlete
Officer• Ensures shoes are kept safe and secure• Sends Shoe Check Form, Shoe Receipt Form, Chain of
Custody Form and collected shoes by door-to-door courier
Shoe Control to World Athletics

OfficerWorld
Athletics

World
Athletics• Once shoe is received, forwards it to the Independent Expert
for further investigation - shoe may be cut• Reviews all information. If shoe is approved and compliant, nofurther action• If shoe is not approved or not compliant, sanctions may
follow as set out in the Athletic Shoe Regulations