November 2023

Organisation rules

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BOOK 2. ORGANISATION RULESTABLE OF CONTENTS

Part A - General rules for the Competitions
Chapter 1. Introduction
Application
Types of competitions
Criteria for World Cup competitions

o.1-2
o.3
o.4

Chapter 2. Glossaryo. 5-9Chapter 3. Bodies Responsible for Organization and Control
The Organising Committee
The Central Office of the FIE
Supervision by the FIE
Technical Delegate of the FIE
The Directoire Technique
Designation of refereeing, SEMI, and medical delegates
SEMI delegates
The Refereeing delegates
The Medical delegates
The Supervisor
Refereeing
Specialized personnel
Checking of Equipment

o.10
o.11
o.12
o.13
o.14-17
o.18
o.19
o.20
o.21
o.22-23o.24-26
o.27
o.28

Chapter 4. Age of Participantso.29-30

Chapter 5. Financial penalties and Fines

o.31

Part B – Procedures before Competitions
Chapter 1. Programming
Programme of the competitions

o.32

Timetable
Senior world championships
Junior and cadet World Championships
Grand Prix, Senior & Junior World Cups,Satellites
Zonal Championship
Olympic Games
Regional Games

o.33-35o.36
o.37-38o.40-41o.42
o.43
o.44-45

Chapter 2. Invitations
Official Invitation
World Championships Seniors, Juniors
Grand Prix, Senior & Junior World Cups
Zonal Championship
Olympic Games
Regional Games

o.46-47o.48-50
o.51
o.52
o.53
o.54

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Chapter 3. Entries
Senior, Junior, World Championships,
Zonal championships
Grand Prix, Senior and Junior World Cups,and Satellite competitions
Olympic Games
Regional Games

o.55-60
o.61-62o.64
o.65

Part C – Procedures during Competitions
Chapter 1. Formulae
Individual Competitions
A. General rules for the round of pools
B. General rules for the direct elimination
C. Mixed formula A. World Championships,
Senior World Cups and Grand Prix
D. Mixed formula B.
E. Formula C. Olympic Games, Regional Gameso.66
o.67-75
o.76-82o.83-88o.89-94o.95-96

Team Competitions
A.
B.
C.

Senior and Junior World Championships, Zonal Championships
Senior and Junior Team World Cups
Olympic Games

Chapter 2. Video Refereeingo.97-99o.100-102
o.104
o.105

Chapter 3. Antidoping

o.106-107

Part D – Procedures after the Competitions
Chapter 1. Ranking
Official FIE individual ranking
Official team ranking of the FIE

o.108
o.109

Chapter 2. Nations’ Grand Prix Ranking

o.110

PART E - VETERANS
Organising Committee VeteransAppointment of Refereeing, SEMI and Medical Delegates Veterans
Refereeing

o.111
o.112
o.113

AGE OF PARTICIPANTS
PRE-COMPETITION PROCEDURESPROGRAMMING

o.114

VETERANS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSo.115

INVITATIONS

o.116

ENTRIES
Veterans World Championships
Entries for competitions
Composition of the pools for the individual Veterans Championships
VETERANS TEAM EVENTS

o.117
o.118
o.119

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BOOK 2. ORGANISATION RULES
PART A: GENERAL RULES FOR COMPETITIONS

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Applicationo.1
The official competitions of the FIE are organised according to the following rules.

o.2
1
2

The official competitions of the FIE are open to fencers (individual or team) of all FIE member
countries.
Every competitor or designated official in a competition, irrespective of his status, is required tobe licensed for the current season (cf. Statutes, Chapter IX).

Types of Competition
o.3

These Rules are obligatory without modification for the ‘Official Competitions of the FIE’, viz.:- The fencing events at the Olympic Games- The World Championships in all categories- The Grands Prix
- The competitions of the World Cup, junior and senior- The Zonal Championships, junior and senior- The Satellite competitions

Criteria for World Cup Competition
Admissiono.4
An individual competition can only be classed or kept as a World Cup competition if it satisfies thefollowing criteria.

1Participation must include fencers:- from at least eight countries, for senior competitions in Europe;- from at least five countries, for senior competitions outside Europe;- from at least five countries, for junior competitions.

2

Participation must include a minimum of ten fencers listed in the top 32 in the official ranking of
the FIE and representing at least five different countries for senior competitions in Europe (norequirement for competitions outside Europe).

3

The competition must be attended by at least four FIE A or B Grade referees of different
nationalities.

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4

The Rules of the FIE must be faithfully applied, as well as the specifications for World Cup
competitions. The organisers must use automatic judging equipment of which the prototype has
been approved by the SEMI.

5

The finals must take place in a hall in which there is space allocated to the public.

6

There must be a sufficient number of pistes to allow the first round to take place in no more than
two series of pools.

7

During the finals, the organisers must display signs on the piste indicating the names andnationalities of the fencers.

8

For the presentation of the prizes, the protocol rules of the FIE must be applied (cf. FIE
Administrative Rules).

9

There must be a medical doctor present on the premises of the competition for the whole durationof the competition.

10

There must be an anti-doping test conforming to the regulations of the FIE (cf. o.107 and the FIE
Anti-Doping Rules).

Chapter 2
GLOSSARY
Assaults and boutso.5
A friendly combat between two fencers is called an assault. When the score of such an assault
is kept to determine a result in an individual competition it is called a bout.
The three sections of a direct elimination bout are called periods.
In a match (cf o.6) between teams each of the nine bouts is called a relay.

Match
o.6
The aggregate of the relays fought between the fencers of two different teams is called a match.

Competitiono.7
1
2

A competition is the aggregate of the bouts (individual competitions) or of the matches (teamcompetitions) required to determine the winner of the event.
Competitions are distinguished by weapons, by the competitors’ sex, by their age and by the factthat they are for individuals or for teams.

Tournamento.8Tournament is the name given to a number of competitions, individual and team, held at the sameplace, at the same period and under the same aegis.

Championshipo.9

A championship is the name given to a competition held to determine the best fencer or the bestteam at each weapon for a federation, for a specific region or for the world and for a specificperiod of time.

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Chapter 3
BODIES RESPONSIBLE FOR
ORGANISATION AND CONTROLThe Organising Committeeo.10
1

The Organising Committee is the group of persons responsible for organising the competition.

2

The Organising Committee must take note of the instructions in the Specifications (‘Cahier desCharges’) specific to each category of competition.

3.

If possible, both genders should be represented in the Organising Committee.

The Central Office of the FIE
o.11

The Central Office of the FIE controls the activities of the Directoire Technique at the Olympic
Games, the World Championships, the Junior and Cadet and Veterans World Championships, as
described in Article o.12.

Supervision by the FIE
o.12
1

With the aim of ensuring that the rules are observed at the World Championships and Olympic
Games, the President and the members of the Bureau of the FIE have the right to attend all
meetings of the Directoire Technique and of the official delegates of the FIE. The Directoire
Technique is obliged to give them notice of such meetings.

2

It is the responsibility of the Bureau of the FIE or of its designated representative to settle any
disputes, other than concerning discipline, which arise at World Championships. With respect todisciplinary actions, see t.143.4 and t.175.2.

Technical delegate of the FIE
o.13
1

The Technical delegate of the FIE, who represents the FIE in accordance with the Olympic Rules
for Regional Games, will be chosen by the President of the FIE, after consultation with the
Executive Committee, according to criteria of recognised technical abilities.

2

The expenses incurred by this representative (tourist-class air fare, hotel and board) will be paidby the Organising Committee.

The Directoire Techniqueo.14
The technical organisation of competitions is entrusted to a Directoire Technique, the functions
and scope of whose activities are described in the Rules (cf. t.139-141, o.15 - o.17).

The Directoire Technique and the FIE delegates at official competitions
o.15
1

Apart from the specific areas of competence which are the responsibility of the other FIE
technical delegates specified hereafter, the technical management of the official competitions of
the FIE is entrusted to a Directoire Technique.

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2

The members of the Directoire Technique and the other official delegates of the FIE cannot act inany other capacity at the competition, such as team captain, official delegate of their federation,referee, competitor, etc.

3

The Directoire Technique and the official delegates of the FIE must always attend events frombeginning to end, so as to solve any problem which could arise and thus ensure that the event
continues to run smoothly.

4

All the decisions of the Directoire Technique and the official delegates of the FIE must be
displayed sufficiently in advance on a clearly visible notice-board to be consulted by the fencers
and officials. In principle, fencers and officials are kept informed by their heads of delegation orcaptains, and they may not make any complaint against changes in the timetable or any othermatter about which information has been displayed within the stipulated time limits.

5

The day before an individual or team competition, the DT must download the entry file, the day
before the competition, from 12:00 noon local time from the FIE website.
- In individual competitions, the DT must publish and send to the FIE the pools and the relevantschedules, as well as the list of exempt fencers for senior competitions, no later than 4:00 p.m.
(local time). No addition may be made to pools already published unless they come from pools
starting at the same time (cf o.67.1).
- In team competitions, the DT must publish and send to the FIE the table and the relevantschedules no later than one hour after the end of the quarter finals of the individual event. No
addition may be made to the published list.

Nomination of the Directoire Techniqueo.16
The Directoire Technique is composed of people who have the experience and competence
to organise competitions.
1

World Championships and Olympic Games.
a)
For the Olympic Games the Directoire Technique is composed of six members ofdifferent nationalities, one of whom must represent the country where the competition is held.
There must be at least one member from each gender.
b)
For the World Championships, the Directoire Technique is composed of 8 members ofdifferent nationalities, one of whom must represent the organising country. There must be at least
two members from each gender.
c)
The Directoire Technique (the President and the remaining members, one of whom will bein charge of the protocol) is appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE.

2

World Cup and Grands Prix competitions.
The Directoire Technique is composed of three qualified persons from the country where thecompetition is held or invited by them. There must be at least one member from each gender.

Functions of the Directoire Techniqueo.17
1

The functions of the Directoire Technique include the strict organisation of the different events,
except the responsibilities of the other delegates of the FIE (cf o.12, o.19, o.20, o.21, o.22). It has
the obligation to see that the Rules are adhered to and cannot decide on any departure from theRules except when circumstances arise in which it is absolutely impossible to apply them.

2

The Directoire Technique is responsible for the technical organisation of the competitions andfor ensuring their smooth running.
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3

Hence:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

4

It ensures the co-ordination between the Organising Committee, the Directoire Technique,the official delegates of the FIE and the other functions of the FIE;
It checks the entries;
It draws up the pool sheets and direct elimination tables;
It allocates the pistes;
It supervises the progress of the event(s);It checks results with the help of the Organising Committee;
It prepares the subsequent events sufficiently in advance to be able to warn the fencers,
officials and judges;
It supervises the dissemination of results.

Furthermore the Directoire Technique has disciplinary responsibility at competitions but only
as a collective entity. In the event of a tied vote within the Directoire Technique, the vote of the
Directoire Technique President is decisive.

Designation of refereeing, SEMI, and medical delegateso.18
Refereeing delegates must be members of the FIE Refereeing Commission.
SEMI delegates must be members of the FIE SEMI Commission.
Medical delegates must be members of the FIE Medical Commission.
When all delegate designations are taken together (across all types of competitions and all
weapons in one season) there must be a minimum of 20% representation of both genders,should the availability of the delegates and continental representation allow it.
Should the availability of the delegates and continental representation allow it, there must be atleast one delegate of each gender from each of the Refereeing, SEMI and Medical Commissions
designated at World Championships.

1

World Championships
A chief Refereeing delegate and 5 more Refereeing delegates, a chief SEMI delegate and 2 more
SEMI delegates and 3 Medical delegates are appointed by the FIE Executive Committee
following the recommendations of the respective commissions.

2Grands Prix
Two Refereeing delegates are appointed by the Executive Committee following therecommendation of the Refereeing Commission.

3

Senior World Cup competitions
One Refereeing delegate is appointed by the Executive Committee following the recommendationof the Refereeing Commission.

The SEMI delegateo.19
1

The SEMI delegates check the technical installations and the homologation of the various items
of equipment.

2

They organise the checking of the fencers’ equipment and oversee its efficient functioning.

3

They have the obligation to see that the Rules are adhered to and cannot themselves decide on
any departure from the Rules except in circumstances in which it is absolutely impossible to apply
them.

4

They assist referees over material problems during matches.
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The Refereeing delegateso.20
1

The functions of the Refereeing delegates include the strict and complete organisation of therefereeing of events, ensuring their perfect running. They have the obligation to see that theRules are adhered to and cannot themselves decide on any departure from the Rules except incircumstances in which it is absolutely impossible to apply them.

2

Hence:a)b)c)d)They organise the referee’s meeting on the day before the event.
They establish the list of referees the day before each competition.
They observe the referees at work and make selections as mandated in articles t.50 ss.
They review protests and provide solutions in conformity with the instructions in article
t.171.

3

For questions concerning the rules during FIE competitions (including the World Championships
and Olympic Games), the Refereeing Commission delegate(s) alone are competent to judge areferee’s decision from the beginning to the end of the bout.

4

Furthermore, a Refereeing delegate is an entity who has disciplinary responsibility atcompetitions; Article t.139 ss defines the extent of his or her authority.

The Medical delegateso.21
1

The functions of the medical delegates include the strict and complete organisation of the medical
aspect. They have the obligation to see that the Rules are adhered to and cannot themselves
decide on any departure from the Rules except in circumstances in which it is absolutely
impossible to apply them.

2

Hence, medical delegates:

a)
b)
c)

Verify the medical services and oversee their operation.
Supervise the anti-doping control.
Evaluate the medical situation and supervise the intervention or recognized treatment of any
injury or other medical reason in accordance with t.45.

Supervisoro.22
1

The Organizing Committees of Grands Prix and World Cup events, individual and team, mustensure the presence of a supervisor of the FIE from a country other than that where thecompetition is held, whose task it will be to verify that the competition properly fulfils the World
Cup criteria.

2

The Supervisor is appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE, at the suggestion of the FIE
Bureau.

3

At competitions where there is no Refereeing Commission delegate, no SEMI Commissiondelegate and no Medical Commission delegate, it is the Supervisor who fulfils these respectivefunctions.

4

The Supervisor settles any other disputes that might arise in World Cup and Grand Prix.

5

The travel, board and lodging costs of the supervisor are the responsibility of the organisers, inaccordance with the standards updated from time to time by the Executive Committee of the FIE.

This supervisor is either:o.23- a member of a FIE Commission,
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- a member of the FIE Executive Committee other than the members of the Bureau,- a member of a group of persons, appointed by the Executive Committee, available andexperienced in the organisation of competitions.

Refereeingo.24
1Refereeing at World Championships is carried out by referees chosen by the Executive
Committee of the FIE at the proposal of the Refereeing Commission.

2

Referees’ travel and board and lodging costs are paid by the Organising Committee, who inreturn will receive all the entry fees.

3

Referees must attend the refereeing meeting that takes place the day before the WorldChampionships.

o.25
1

The number of FIE A or B Grade referees that must accompany teams to junior World Cup
competitions and satellite competitions is:
1–4 fencers:
5–9 fencers:
10 or more fencers:
1 Junior Team:No obligation to provide a referee
One referee
Two referees
One referee

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For junior World Cup competitions and satellite competitions, the name(s) of the referee(s) (whomust have an FIE category in the weapon of the competition for which they are entered) must be
notified via the FIE website 7 days before the competition (midnight, Lausanne time).
2

Should a national Federation not provide the required number of referees, a fine (cf o.31,
table of financial penalties and fines) will be inflicted on it.

3

In addition, the FIE Supervisor of junior World Cup competitions is required to report on gender
diversity of the registered referees through the FIE Supervisor’s report.

o.26
For Senior World Cup, Grands Prix and World Cup team competitions, 8 referees, proposedby the Refereeing Commission, will be designated by the Executive Committee and delegations
will not have to provide any referees.
The additional referees required (not less than 5) will be provided by the organising committee.
All the referees will be at the expense of the organisers who in return will keep the entry
fees.

Specialized personnelo.27
The organising committee must appoint:
1

Scorers and time-keepers
The Organizing committee must appoint, on their own responsibility, scorers whose duty it will beto keep the score-sheet for the bout, the pool or the match and maintain the score-boards, and atime-keeper whose duty it will be to keep time for the duration of the bouts (cf. t.37ss).
For finals, the Directoire Technique must appoint a delegate or a referee, neutral wherever
possible, to supervise the time-keeper, the scorer and the person responsible for the scoringapparatus.

2

3

The Organising Committee must choose qualified persons, who pay careful attention to thesignals given by the apparatus in order that they may be able to advise the Referee as to what
the apparatus has registered, and warn him, even during the course of a bout, as to any
abnormal phenomena which may occur.
Experts
a)

b)
c)

4

For each tournament, the Organising Committee must appoint experts in matters relating
to the electrical apparatus. These experts are placed under the supervision of the
Directoire Technique.
The experts may be consulted, separately or conjointly, by the referees or by the Directoire
Technique regarding all questions relating to the electrical apparatus.
Members of the Committee for Electrical Apparatus and Equipment of the FIE (SEMI)
who are present are ex officio qualified to act as experts.

Repairers
For each tournament, the Organising Committee must ensure the presence of competent
repairers to remedy faults in the electrical apparatus and, possibly, in the personal electricalequipment of the fencers.

Checking of Equipment
o.28
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The checking of the organization equipment, as well as the equipment of the fencers, must be
carried out in accordance with the rules to be found in the Material Rules by qualified personnel
designated by the Organizing committee. If there are present designated members of the
SEMI Commission, this function must be carried out by them or under their control.

Chapter 4
AGE OF PARTICIPANTS
o.29
1

No fencer may obtain an FIE licence, enabling him or her to enter for an official FIE competition,
until he or she has reached their 13th birthday.

2

3

Fencers taking part in all the official FIE Cadet competitions must be under 17 years old at
midnight on the 31st December of the year preceding the year in which the competition takes
place.
Fencers taking part in all the official FIE Junior competitions, individual or team, must be under 20
years old at midnight on 31st December of the year preceding the year in which the competition
takes place (cf o.30).

Fencers taking part in all the official FIE Junior competitions, individual or team, must be under 20
years old at midnight on 31st December of the year preceding the year in which the competition
takes place.
To be eligible to compete in the current season's official events, including the current season'sWorld Junior Championships, fencers must be under 20 years of age at midnight on 31
December of the current season.
Application: from season 2024-2025
4

Apart from the stipulations above, there is no maximum age limit for those taking part in any otherofficial events of the FIE, except in regard to the different Veteran categories.

5

All participants in an official competition of the FIE who are under the age of majority in the
country in which such competition is being held must either:a) be accompanied by a person who is a parent or guardian of the participant or who has beendelegated in a form valid in the country of the competition from a parent or guardian of suchparticipant to act on behalf of the participant regarding health-related issues; orb) have such power of attorney issued to a person who has achieved his/her majority and who
will be at the competition site during the competition and has agreed to accept the responsibility
delineated in such power.

o.30
Only fencers who are of an age to qualify for the next Junior World Championships may fence inthe official FIE Junior competitions, individual or team, of the current fencing season.

Only fencers who are of an age to qualify for the next Junior World Championships may fence inthe official FIE Junior competitions, individual or team, of the current fencing season.
Application: from season 2024-2025
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Chapter 5
FINANCIAL PENALTIES AND FINES
Table of Financial Penalties and Fines
o.31
ArticleAmountDate ofpayment

To bepaid toBy whom

Entry to WorldChampionships
after closing dateo.56

150 euros
per entry

With the
entry

FIE

By theNational
Federation

Entry to other FIE
competitions after
closing date until theTuesday preceding
the competitiono.61.4a)

150 euros
per entry

With the
entry

FIE

By theNational
Federation

Entry to other FIE
competitions after
closing date, fromthe Wednesday anduntil the day (12noon local time)preceding thecompetitiono.61.4b)

250 euros
per entry

With the
entry

FIE

By theNational
Federation

If a fencer or team
duly entered does
not turn upo.85.4,o.87.3,o.61.5500 euros
per fencer
or team

On receipt
ofnotificationof the fineFIE

By theNational
Federation

Participation of afencer or team notproperly entered orwithout a valid FIE
licence for thecurrent season

o.61.61000 euros
perimproperparticipation

On receipt
ofnotificationof the fineFIE

By theorganiser

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Required number ofreferees notrespected

Deadline to send
the invitation notrespected

Deadline to send
the invitation for
Zonal
Championships notrespected

o.25.1.b1000 euros
per referee

At thesame timeas theinformationis sent totheorganiser

Organiser

By theNational
Federationo.51

1000 euros

On receipt
ofnotificationof the fineFIE

By theNational
Federation

FIE

By theNational
Federationo.52

On receipt
ofnotificationof the fine

500 euros

PART B: PROCEDURES BEFORE THE COMPETITIONS
Chapter 1
PROGRAMMING
Programme of the competitions
o.32
The Organizing Committee must submit the programme of events to the Executive Committee
for its approval.

Timetableo.33
1

The programme must be displayed, communicated and respected and must take into
account the time needed for the fencers to rest between bouts. It should be arranged in sucha way that no fencer is obliged to participate in events for more than 12 hours in 24. In any
case, no pool, bout or match may begin after midnight, or at any time when it can be foreseenwith certainty that it will end after midnight.

2

Whatever programme is adopted, the final shall start at a time which, having regard to local
routines, will ensure that the results can be communicated to the media in sufficient time to allow
them to be published.

o.34
In their timetable the Organizing committee must allow sufficient time for it to be possible to carryout the checking of the fencers’ equipment, i.e. a minimum of one day per weapon.

o.35
The first round of all the individual and team competitions, including the World Championships
and Olympic Games, must be displayed by 4 p.m. local time, at the latest the day before thecompetition. (t.175).

SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
o.36

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The programme of the Senior World Fencing Championships comprises twelve events, six
individual and six team — male foil, female foil, male épée, female épée, male sabre and female
sabre.

JUNIOR AND CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
o.37
The programme of the Junior and Cadet World Fencing Championships comprises twelve
individual events (six junior and six cadet), and six junior team events — at male foil, female foil,
male épée, female épée, male sabre and female sabre. These begin with the cadet events,
followed by the individual junior events and lastly the junior team events.

o.38
When drawing pools in the World Cadet Championships, the Directoire Technique must takeaccount of the following orders of strength:1

The top 8 in the previous year’s World Cadet Championships;

2

The 64 highest ranked in the official FIE junior ranking of the year in course;

3

Those placed 9–32 in the previous year’s World Cadet Championships;

4

Those ranked 65 onwards in the official FIE junior ranking of the year in course;

5

The seeding provided by the national federations;

6

The Directoire Technique’s decision.

o.39----------------------

o.40
………..
TEAM WORLD CUP COMPETITIONS
o.41
1

Application
Junior and Senior Team World Cup competitions take place at the three weapons, both maleand female.

2

Principlesa)

The Senior Team World Cup tournament is composed of five integral competitions (through to thefirst place) spread, if possible, across all continents. Points will be allocated at the end of eachcompetition.
The Junior Team World Cup tournament is composed of eight integral competitions and points
will be awarded at the end of each competition.

b)

The teams are made up of three fencers, with or without a substitute.

c)

The matches proceed according to the team-relay formula, as provided for in Article o.99 ofthese Rules.

3

Participation
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Team participation is open to all countries and limited to one team per weapon per country.

ZONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
o.42
1.

The Zonal Championships recognised by the FIE are the Senior Zonal Championships and theJunior Zonal Championships. Other competitions may be organized by the Zonal Confederations(Veterans, U 23, Cadet circuit, etc.).

2.

The program of the Senior Zonal Championships comprises twelve events, six individual and six
team —men’s foil, women’s foil, men’s epee, women’s epee, men’s sabre and women’s sabre.

3.

The program of the Junior Zonal Championships comprises 6 individual events, and 6 teamevents — men’s foil, women’s foil, men’s epee, women’s epee, men’s sabre and women’s sabre.

4.

The formulae of the competitions are specified in the rules and in the following articles: o.100,
o.101 and o.102 (o.102.1 first sentence and o.102.2).

5.

For Senior and Junior Individual Zone Championships, at each weapon, the federations may
enter up to four fencers. For Senior and Junior Team Zone Championships, at each weapon,
each federation may enter 1 team (consisting of three fencers with or without a reserve).

OLYMPIC GAMESo.43
The programme of fencing events at the Olympic Games currently comprises twelve events. Anychange in the number of events must be approved by the Congress.

REGIONAL GAMES
o.44
1

The Regional Games recognised by the FIE are the same as those recognised by theInternational Olympic Committee, when fencing is on the programme (e.g. the MediterraneanGames, the Pan-American Games, the Central American and Caribbean Games, etc.) as well as
the Commonwealth Games.

2

The Rules of the FIE are obligatory in cases which are not provided for by the Rules for Regional
Games adopted by the International Olympic Committee.

SATELLITE COMPETITIONS
o.45
Satellite competitions may be organized at any of the 6 weapons.
There are no minimum participation standards.

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Chapter 2
INVITATIONS
Official Invitationo.46
For all the official competitions of the FIE except the Olympic Games, the official invitation is theletter in which the Organising Committee invites every FIE member federation to take part in theevent.

o.47
For World Championships, this invitation must be sent to every FIE member federation fourmonths before the competition.

Invitations for international officials
World Championshipso.48
1

Any proposed candidature for organising the Senior, Junior and Cadet WorldChampionships must be studied at the venue concerned by an ad hoc delegation designated by
the Executive Committee, at the invitation of the candidate federation.

2

The organising committee of the World Championships, who will receive all the entry fees fromthe participating delegations, must, at their own expense, invite the following international
officials (tourist-class return air fare, accommodation and daily allowances):a)

The President of the FIE or his representative, who presides over the World Championships
and, in particular, controls the smooth running of the Directoire Technique.
Eight members of the Directoire Technique appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE,
of whom one must belong to the organising country and one is Head of Protocol.
Three members of the SEMI Commission, appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE.

b)
c)

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d)
e)
f)

Six members of the Refereeing Commission, one of whom is designated principal delegate,appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE.
Three members of the Medical Commission, appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE.
The referees designated by the Executive Committee at the proposal of the Refereeing
Commission in accordance with the Handbook of Regulations.

o.49-----------------

o.50

Grands Prix, Senior and Junior World Cups, Satellites
Official invitationo.51
For World Cup competitions and Grands Prix, the invitations must be sent out at least twomonths before the competition in question.
If an organising federation fails to comply with the above mentioned deadlines, it will besanctioned with a fine amounting to 1000 €, paid to the FIE.

Zonal Championshipso.52
For Zonal Championships, invitations must be sent out at least three months before thecompetition.
If an organizing federation fails to comply with the above-mentioned deadline, it will be sanctioned
with a fine of 500 € to be paid to the FIE.

Olympic Gameso.53
The rules for the invitation to and participation in the Olympic Games are established by the IOC.

Regional Games
Technical officials and refereeso.54
The Olympic Rules for Regional Games stipulate that the control of all the technicalorganisation of the Games, including appointing referees and officials, must be entrusted to theinternational federations. The Organising Committee must pay the expenses (tourist-class air
fare, hotel and board) for the following officials:
1

Directoire Technique: Two foreign members if the Directoire Technique has three members;
five foreign members if there are six members. The Directoire Technique is appointed by the
Executive Committee of the FIE.

2

Checking of Equipment: One or two representatives of the SEMI Committee, depending on
the importance of the fencing events at the Games. These representatives are appointed by the
Executive Committee of the FIE.

3

Refereeing delegate: A representative of the Refereeing Committee, appointed by the
Executive Committee of the FIE.
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4

Neutral referees: At least two international referees from countries outside the region of theGames, appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE at the proposal of the Refereeing
Commission.

Chapter 3
ENTRIES
Senior and Junior World Championships, Zonal championships
Intention to participate in the World Championshipso.55
The forms must be sent to all federations at the same time as the official invitation. The
federations must indicate their intention to participate three months before the beginning of theChampionships.

Entries for World Championships (all categories) and Zonal Senior and JuniorChampionshipso.56
1

Three months before the start of the World Championships, the federations will receive an entry
form from the Organising Committee, on which they are required to specify the number offencers and teams participating in each event of the competition’s programme, two months before
the start of the first event.

2

The entry of fencers and teams by name is to be made via the FIE website. This entry of thenames of the fencers and all possible substitutes, and the entry of teams, must be made:- fifteen days (by midnight, Lausanne time) before the first event of the World Championships at
the latest.
- seven days (by midnight, Lausanne time) before the first event of the Zonal Championships at
the latest.

3

Withdrawal of a fencer.
After the cut-off date for entries, there can be no further withdrawal of a name except inany case of force majeure duly justified.
Should a fencer or team who have been entered not present themselves to fence, theirfederation will be penalised by a fine (cf o.31, table of financial penalties and fines), payable
to the FIE, except in cases of properly authenticated ‘force majeure’.

4

Addition of fencer(s) after the cut-off date.
Nevertheless, one or more fencers may be added, up until 10.00am (local time in the town
hosting the World or Zonal Championships) on the day before the competition, after payment
to the FIE of a penalty (cf o.31, table of financial penalties and fines) per fencer added. To
do this the national federation must address a request to the FIE to add a fencer, together withimmediate payment of the penalty.

5

Changes of names, only with the agreement of the FIE, can only be made at the latest up to 24
hours before the start of each event.

o.57
At the Senior World Championships, entries are limited to four fencers per weapon per nation
for the individual events and one team per weapon per nation for the team events.

o.58
The Junior and Cadet World Championships are open to all FIE member federations.

o.59
For the Cadet World Championships, entries are limited to three fencers per weapon per nation
for the individual events.
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For the Junior World Championships, the entries are limited to four fencers per nation for eachindividual event, and one team per weapon per nation for the team events.

Zone Championshipo.60
For junior and senior Individual Zone Championship competitions, at each weapon, thefederations may enter up to 4 fencers.
For junior and senior Team Zone Championship competitions, at each weapon, the federations
may enter 1 team (consisting of three fencers with or without a reserve).

Grand Prix, Senior and Junior World Cups (individual and team), and Satellitecompetitions.
o.61
1

The entry of the names of the fencers and all possible replacements, and the entry of teams,
must be made via the FIE website 7 days before the competition at the latest (midnight Lausannetime).
For team entries, the names of the fencers making up the teams may be changed,
by informing the organizers, up to the day before the competition, at the latest at the end of thequarter finals of the individual competition. However, a replacement can be made after this stage,
and at the latest at the end of the individual event, in the case of injury or other medical reason
duly certified by the competition medical doctor.

2

Withdrawal of a fencer or team.
After the closing deadline for entries, no named fencer or team may be withdrawn except for
injury, other medical reason or force majeure: the national federation must inform the FIE and theorganizers.

3

Substitution of a fencer.
Until the Wednesday preceding the competition (midnight, Lausanne time), a fencer may bereplaced by another. To do this, the national federation must send to the FIE, by fax or e-mail, awritten request to substitute the fencer.

4Addition of a fencer or a team after the deadline.

a)However, until the Tuesday preceding the competition (midnight, Lausanne time), one or more
fencers and/or a team may be added by their national federation after payment to the FIE of apenalty (cf o.31, table of financial penalties and fines) for each additional entry.
To do this, the national federation must send to the FIE (by fax or e-mail) a request for the
additional fencer(s) and/or team and a written commitment to pay the penalty within 15 days.
From the Wednesday preceding the competition until 12 noon (local time) on the day preceding
the competition, one or more fencers and/or a team may be added by national federations after
payment to the FIE of a higher penalty (cf o.31, table of financial penalties and fines) for each
additional entry.
To do this, the national federation must send to the FIE (by fax or e-mail) a request for the
additional fencer(s) and/or team and a written commitment to pay the penalty within 15 days.

b)

5

Should a fencer or team who have been entered not present themselves to fence, their federation
will be penalised with a fine (cf o.31, table of financial penalties and fines), payable to the FIE,
except in cases of properly authenticated ‘force majeure’.

6

The organisers of all official competitions must, at risk of a penalty of a fine payable to the FIE (cfo.31, table of financial penalties and fines), refuse the entry of any fencers not appearing onlists conforming with the above, any entry not requested by a federation and any entry of either
fencer or referee not in possession of an FIE licence valid for the current season.

o.62

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1

For Grand Prix competitions and Individual World Cup competitions, both Senior and Junior,at each weapon, each national federation may enter a maximum of 12 fencers. The organisingcountry may enter up to 20 fencers plus the number needed to make up the pools.

2

For Individual World Cup competitions outside Europe, the organising country may enter up
to 30 fencers plus the number needed to make up the pools.

o.63-----------------Olympic Games
o.64
Entries must be sent to the organisers by the competitors’ National Olympic Committee.

o.65
………….

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PART C: PROCEDURES DURING THE COMPETITIONS
Chapter 1
FORMULAE
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS
o.66
Individual competitions may be organised:a)

By direct elimination with a mixed system consisting of one round of eliminating pools and a
preliminary direct elimination table, followed by a main direct elimination table of 64 fencers toqualify 8 or 4 fencers for a direct elimination final.

b)

By direct elimination with a mixed system consisting of one round of eliminating pools,
followed by a direct elimination table to qualify 8 or 4 fencers for a direct elimination final.

c)

By direct elimination throughout. (This tableau, applicable at the Olympic Games, is contained
as an annexe.)

A. GENERAL RULES FOR THE ROUND OF POOLS
o.67
1

In all competitions for which the formula includes a round of pools, these pools consist of 7
fencers if the number of participants is divisible by 7. Otherwise the pools are of 7 and 6. In nocase may the pools be of fewer than 6 fencers.
If, however, as the result of the absence of one or more fencers, one or more pools were to be
reduced to 5 or fewer fencers, the Directoire Technique must add to these pools one or more
fencers from other pools of 7 fencers in the same round of pools, taking into account the initialranking of the fencer(s) being replaced.
Depending on the number of participants, the pool round may take place over several rounds.
The Directoire Technique must then provide for each pool round, pools of 7 and 6 (if applicable)
in order to balance one or more pools in the event of fencers absent at roll call in pools of 6.

2

At World Cup and Grand Prix competitions the organising country may add the necessary
number of fencers of their own nationality for all the pools to consist of 7 fencers.
Composition of poolso.68
1

The pools are composed taking account of the initial seeding in the competition, which is basedon the latest official FIE ranking and by drawing lots among any fencers who are not in the
ranking. The pools are composed using the following method:
Pool

A

B

C

Fencer ranked

1
2 3
6
5 4
7
8 9
12 11 1013 14 15
18 17 16
19 20 21

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2

The allocation of fencers in the pools must be made in such a way as to place fencers of thesame nationality in different pools, as far as possible. If a fencer is placed in a pool where there isalready a fencer of the same nationality, he is moved one or more places down the ranking until
he is placed in a pool without a fencer of the same nationality. If this is not possible, he mustremain in the original pool.

3

The order of fencers on the pool sheet is decided by drawing lots.

4

The pools must be fenced up to the last bout.

o.69
The order of bouts in the pools is as follows:
1. Pool of seven
1–4
5–1
3–5
2–5
4–3
1–6
3–6
6–2
2–4
7–1
5–7
7–3
5–4
3–1
6–5
2–3
4–6
1–2
6–7
7–2
4–7

2. Pool of six
1–2
5–4
6–4
4–3
1–6
2–3
6–5
3–5
1–4
3–1
4–2
5–2
2–6
5–1
3–6

o.70
When there are several fencers from the same country in a pool:1

If they do not form the majority of the competitors in the pool, they must fence off the bouts
between themselves before meeting competitors of another nationality.

2

If they form the majority of the competitors in the pool, the Directoire Technique may establish a
special order of bouts, departing as little as possible from the principle laid down in 3.a) below, inorder to obviate excessive fatigue or delays for the competitors who form the minority in the pool.

3

Examples of the order of fencers of the same nationality in a pool of six:a)When a pool contains, among its six fencers,- two fencers of the same nationality A, or- two fencers of the same nationality A and two of the same nationality B- two fencers of the same nationality A, two of the same nationality B and two of the samenationality C
the fencers’ names are placed on the pool sheet in such a way that those of the same nationality
fence each other in their first bout and the order of bouts of a pool of six is that shown in Article
o.69 above.

b)

When a pool contains among its six fencers,- three fencers of the same nationality A, or- three fencers of the same nationality A and two fencers of the same nationality B, or- three fencers of the same nationality A and three fencers of the same nationality B, theorder will be as follows:
1–2
4–5
2–3
5–6
3–1

6–4
2–5
1–4
5–3
1–6

4–2
3–6
5–1
3–4
6–2

the fencers’ names are placed on the pool sheet in the following way:
- the fencers of nationality A are given numbers 1, 2 and 3;- the fencers of nationality B are given numbers 4 and 5 or 4, 5 and 6.
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c)

When a pool contains among its six fencers four fencers of the same nationality A and twoothers of different nationalities, the four fencers of nationality A are placed on the pool sheet as 1,
2, 3 and 4 and the order of bouts in the pool is as follows:
3–1
4–2
1–4
2–3
5–6

1–2
3–4
1–6
2–5
3–6

4–5
6–2
5–1
6–4
5–3

4

Example of the order of fencers of the same nationality in a pool of seven:a)When this pool contains, among the seven fencers,- two fencers of nationality A, or- two fencers of nationality A and two fencers of nationality B, or- two fencers of nationality A, two fencers of nationality B and two fencers of nationality C,
the fencers of the same nationality are listed on the pool sheet so that they fence their first boutagainst each other while following the order of fights laid down in Article o.69 above for a pool ofseven fencers.

b)

When the pool contains, among the seven fencers,- three fencers of nationality A, or- three fencers of nationality A and two fencers of nationality B, or- three fencers of nationality A, two fencers of nationality B and two fencers of nationality
C
the three fencers of nationality A must be listed 1, 2 and 3 on the pool sheet, the two fencers ofnationality B, 4 and 5, and the two fencers of nationality C, 6 and 7.
The order of bouts for the pool of seven, detailed in Article o.69, is no longer valid and must be
replaced by the following order:
1–4
1–2
6–2
4–5
3–4
2–7
6–7
7–5
5–3
3–1
1–6
6–4
4–7
4–2
7–1
2–5
2–3
7–3
5–1
5–6
3–6

o.71
1

If a bout in a pool is interrupted by an accidental cause, and this interruption is likely to be
prolonged, the Referee may (with the consent of the Directoire Technique, or possibly theOrganising Committee) alter the order of bouts in such a way as to allow the normal progress ofthe competition to proceed.

2

The time allowed for a fencer to rest between two consecutive bouts in a pool is three minutes.

o.72
Before the competition starts, the Directoire Technique will decide on and announce the numberof fencers who will be eliminated based on the ranking established by the pools.

o.73
1

After the pools, a single general ranking is established of all the fencers who have taken part in
the pools, taking account, successively, of the indices V/M, HS – HR, HS.
(V = victories; M = bouts; HS = hits scored; HR = hits received.)

2

A summary classification table is then made in the following way:a)b)

The results written up on the summary table are added up to ascertain the two indices required.
The first index, for the initial classification, is obtained by dividing the number of victories by the
number of bouts fought, using the formula V/M.
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c)
d)

e)
f)

3

The fencer with the highest index (maximum 1) is seeded first.
In cases of equality in this first index, and to separate fencers with equal first indices, a second
index is established, using the formula HS – HR, the difference between the total number of hitsscored and hits received.
In cases of equality of the two indices V/M and HS – HR, the fencer who has scored most hits
is seeded highest.
In cases of absolute equality between two or more fencers, their seeding order is decided bydrawing lots.
Should there be absolute equality among the last to qualify there is no barrage, and thefencers with equal indicators are all qualified, even if they are in excess of the number decided
on.
Withdrawalo.74
1

A fencer who is not present at the start of the pool is scratched from the pool and is recorded
without a classification at the end of the final classification list with the information “Did Not Start”.

2

A fencer who abandons in the course of a pool is scratched from the pool and is recorded in thelist of results with the information ‘Did Not Finish’.

3.

A fencer who is excluded during the pool phase is scratched from the pool, and his results areannulled as if he had not taken part. The fencer is recorded without a classification at the end of
the final classification list with the information “Excluded”.

o.75---------------------

B. GENERAL RULES FOR THE DIRECT ELIMINATIONo.76
The direct elimination table (bout plan) is established taking account of the classification table
and the special rules for each competition (see Figure 7a). The principle of protection ofnationality will not be applied.

o.77
The Organizing committee of a competition must publish the direct elimination bout plan,showing on it the scheduled time for each bout from the table of 64 onwards.

o.78
1

During the one-minute rests a person, named before the bout, may have access to the fencer.

2

A clock, incorporated into the electrical scoring apparatus, blocks the latter at the end of eachperiod.
Withdrawalo.79
1

From the beginning of the direct elimination tableau, if for whatever reason, a fencer does not
fence, or is unable to fence, or does not complete his bout, his opponent is declared winner ofthat bout. A fencer who withdraws does not lose his place in the overall classification of thecompetition and is recorded in the result list with the information “Did Not Finish”.

2

A fencer who is excluded is scratched from the direct elimination table and his results areannulled as if he had not taken part. The fencer is recorded without a classification at the end of
the final classification list with the information “Excluded”. Cf. t.124.3.b, t.170.
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Order of boutso.80
1

In each round of the direct elimination table (256, 128, 64, 32, 16, 8 or 4), the bouts are always
called in the order of the bout plan, starting at the top and ending at the bottom.

2This rule must also be applied for each quarter or eighth of the table, when the direct
elimination is taking place simultaneously on 4 or 8 pistes.

3

A fencer must always be allowed a rest period of ten minutes between two consecutive bouts.
The finalo.81
1

The final, which is by direct elimination, will preferably consist of 4 fencers.

2

The finals of both women’s and men’s events at the same weapon should preferably be held on
the same day.
Classificationo.82
1

The general classification is obtained as follows:First: the winner of the bout for the first place
Second: the loser of the bout for the first place2

The two fencers who lose the semi-final matches are placed equal third, when it is not necessary
to separate them.

3

When it is necessary to separate them, a bout for third and fourth places will be fought between
the two losers of the semi-final matches.

4

The remainder are placed, in each round of the tableau:a) Competitions with a round of pools: according to the ranking for the drawing of the direct
elimination tableau following the pools.
b) Competitions with no round of pools: according to the ranking preceding the drawing of theinitial tableau and before any drawing of lots if that is required.

5

The fencers eliminated in the round of pools are ranked according to their classification in thisround and they are placed after those who qualified for the direct elimination.

C. MIXED FORMULA A. SENIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, SENIORWORLD CUPS AND GRAND PRIX
Mixed formula Ao.83
One qualifying round of pools, a preliminary direct elimination table, a main direct eliminationtable of 64 fencers to qualify for a final by direct elimination.
This formula is used for the individual competitions of the Senior World Championships aswell as for the Senior World Cup competitions and Grand Prix competitions.

o.84
Apart from the details that follow, the general rules for pools and direct elimination prescribedabove apply.

o.85
1
2

The competition consists of two phases, a preliminary phase and a main phase, each of which are
run on one day.
The 16 fencers entered who are ranked highest in the most recent official FIE classification
are exempt from the preliminary phase.
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3

Should a fencer who has been entered not turn up, a fine (cf o.31, table of financial penalties
and fines), payable to the FIE, is inflicted on the Federation of the fencer at fault except in acase of force majeure which is duly justified.
In the case of a tie in the official FIE ranking between two or more fencers for the 16th exempt
place, lots are drawn to decide which of these fencers will benefit from exemption from thepreliminary phase.

4

o.86
1

The preliminary phase consists of one round of pools, from which 20%–30% of the participantsin the pools are eliminated, based on the indices of all competing in them, and a preliminary direct
elimination table. For Grand Prix competitions, the number of fencers eliminated on the indices ofthe pools must be 30%

2

After the round of pools, the 16 fencers ranked highest on the general index (cf o.73) are
exempt from the preliminary direct elimination table. Should there be a tie between two or more
fencers for the 16th place, there will be a barrage for 5 hits to decide who is ranked 16th.
Following the barrage, the ranking of the fencers is determined according to V, HS-HR, HS.

3

The remainder of the fencers qualifying from the pools will make up a preliminary integral direct
elimination table. This will be based on the indices of the fencers in all the pools (in the case ofa tie on indices, the fencers will be separated by drawing lots). This table, be it complete or
incomplete, will be fenced until only 32 fencers remain.

.

o.87
1

The main phase consists of an integral direct elimination table, which is fenced on four pistes,
one quarter of the table per piste. The first round of the table of 64 may, however, if required forthe organisation of the competition, be fenced on eight pistes. Grand Prix competitions must be
fenced on four pistes.

2

The seeded fencers exempted from the preliminary phase occupy places 1–16 in this table,
drawing lots in pairs in the order of their official FIE classification.

3

Should one of the 16 exempted fencers who had been entered not present himself to fence(cf. o.85), his position in the table will remain empty and his federation will be required to pay to
the FIE a fine (cf o.31, table of financial penalties and fines) unless his absence is caused bycircumstances duly justified as being outside his control.

4

The 16 fencers who have the highest indices after the round of pools and who are thus
exempt from the preliminary direct elimination table will take places 17–32, classified in the orderof their indices (in the case of a tie on indices, the fencers will be separated by drawing lots).

5

The 32 fencers qualifying from the preliminary direct elimination table will occupy places
33–64, classified according to their indices after the round of pools.

6

The drawing of lots and allocation of the qualified fencers in the main table (T64) shall be made at
the end of the preliminary table in the presence of the Directoire Technique President.

o.88
There will be no bout for the third place. The two fencers who lose the semi-final matches will beplaced equal third.

D. MIXED FORMULA B – JUNIOR AND CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSAND JUNIOR WORLD CUP COMPETITIONS AND ZONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Mixed Formula Bo.89
One qualifying round of pools, a direct elimination table to qualify for a final by direct
elimination.
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This formula is used for the individual competitions of the Junior and Cadet World Championships
and the Junior World Cup competitions and Zonal Championships. The seeding rules for the
Zonal Cadet Championships are established by the Zonal Confederations.

o.90
Apart from the details that follow, the general rules for pools and direct elimination describedabove apply.

o.91
The competitions are run on one single day per weapon.

o.92
The competition consists of one round of pools, in which all the fencers present take part, andan integral direct elimination table.

o.93
1

All the fencers qualifying from the round of pools are placed in a direct elimination table, complete
or incomplete, according to the indices resulting from the pools. This table is fenced rightthrough to the final.

2

From the last 32 the direct elimination bouts will take place:- either on 4 pistes, with each quarter of the table fenced on one piste.
- or on 8 pistes, with each quarter of the table fenced on 2 pistes.

o.94
There will be no bout for the third place. The two fencers who lose the semi-final matches will beplaced equal third.

E. FORMULA C.
Olympic Gameso.95
The organisation formulae for the Olympic Games are established by the Executive Committee,
with the approval of the IOC. (See art. 9.1.1.1 of the Administrative rules).

Regional Gameso.96
The organization formulae for the Regional Games are established by the Executive Committee,
with the approval of the IOC. (See chapter 9 of the Administrative rules).

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TEAM COMPETITIONS
A. SENIOR AND JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSo.97
At each weapon teams consist of three fencers, with or without a reserve.
A team may begin a match only if it is complete.

o.98
1

The competition is run by integral direct elimination with a direct elimination table which may be
incomplete (see table Annex b).

2

At the Junior and Senior World Championships the teams occupy the places in the tableaccording to the most recent official team ranking of the FIE. The teams that are not classified
occupy the last places in the table and will be separated by drawing of lots.

3

At the Senior and Junior World Championships, all places in the table up to 16th place arefought for. From 17th place onwards teams are classified, within each round of the table,according to their initial place in the table.

o.99
The formula for the competition is as follows.
1

The relay formula applies to all weapons.

2

The three fencers of one team fence the three fencers of the opposing team (9 relay bouts).

3

The bouts of each match have to be fought in the following order:
3–6
1–5
2–4
1–6
3–4

2–5
1–4
2–6
3–5

If this order is altered, intentionally or unintentionally, all the hits scored following the modification
are annulled and the match is resumed in the correct order.
4

The position of each team on the match score-sheet is decided by drawing lots. The order ofthe individual fencers is then decided by the team captains.

5a) In the course of a match the captain of a team may ask to substitute for a fencer the reserve
nominated before the start of the match. This substitution may only be made at the end of a bout.
However, the fencer who has been replaced may fence one more time during that match, but only
to replace the fencer who originally substituted him. This second replacement is not allowed if thefirst replacement has been made for the reasons listed in article o.99.6. No further substitution fora fencer on the piste is allowed, even in the case of an accident or unavoidable circumstances.
The announcement that a fencer is to be substituted must be made at the latest before thebeginning of the bout preceding the next bout of the fencer who is to be replaced and must bereported by the Referee to the opposing team captain. At World Championships and Olympic
Games, the referee must also report this immediately to the Directoire Technique.
b) If an accident occurs in the bout which follows the request for a substitution, the team captainmay annul that request.
c) If the captain of the opposing team has also requested a substitution, this substitution may be
implemented or cancelled.
6a) If a member of a team is obliged to retire during a match as the result of an accident which
has been duly recognised by a medical representative of the FIE, the captain of his team may
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ask to put in a reserve to continue the match at the point where the competitor who was obliged
to retire withdrew, even during a bout in progress.
b) However, a competitor who is thus replaced cannot again take his place in the teamduring the same match.
778a) If both a fencer and the reserve, if any, are forced to withdraw, and the team is therefore
incomplete, it has lost the match and must withdraw from the competition. The team retains its
place in the final ranking.
b) If a fencer is excluded during a team match, his/her team has lost the match and the team is
excluded from the competition without any final ranking. Cf. t.160.
When for any reason whatever a team does not complete an event in which it is taking part, theDirectoire Technique will apply the rules laid down for a competitor who does not complete an
event in an individual competition, each team being considered in its entirety as being asingle competitor. Cf. t.124.3.b, t.170.

9

When a team fails to appear against another team it is considered:a)as not completing the event in which it is taking part, if it has already fenced against
another team (cf. o.79);b)
as not competing at all in the event, if it is its first match.

10

A 10-minute rest must always be given between two matches of the same team.

B. SENIOR AND JUNIOR TEAM WORLD CUPS AND ZONALCHAMPIONSHIPS
o.100
Apart from the following aspects, the competition is run in accordance with rules laid down for theteam events in the Junior, Senior World Championships and Zonal Championships respectively.

o.101
If a team does not begin a match they will be disqualified from the competition and thus will notreceive any World Team Cup points, unless this is because of an injury or other medical reason,
duly attested by the duty doctor.

o.102
1

The first four teams are placed in the direct elimination table according to the current official
team ranking of the FIE (cf. o.109); the remaining ranked teams will be placed in the table bydrawing of lots in pairs.
The teams that are not classified will occupy the last places in the table and will be separated
by drawing of lots.

2

The table will be drawn up based on the ranking of the teams entered, at the latest one hour
after the quarter finals of the individual event.
At the Zonal Championships, teams without FIE ranking will occupy the last places in the table.
They will be separated according to the final ranking obtained in the individual competition by thethree best fencers in the team. The fencers of the teams who do not have a ranking in theindividual competition will take the last place +1.

o.103-------------------

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C. OLYMPIC GAMESo.104
The organisation formulae for the Olympic Games are established by the Executive Committee,
with the approval of the IOC. (See art. 9.1.1.1 of the Administrative rules).

Chapter 2
VIDEO REFEREEINGVideo Refereeingo.105Video-refereeing is compulsory at all three weapons at Grand Prix, Senior World Cup individual
and team competitions, the Junior and Cadet World Championships, the World Championships
and Olympic Games, Zonal Championships and qualification events for the Olympic Games. It is
optional at the Veteran World Championships.
1 For World Cup individual, Grand Prix competitions, Zone Championships and qualification events
for the Olympic Games, video-refereeing is compulsory and must be used as soon as thetimetable allows the competition to be run on 4 pistes or 8 pistes, and in any case, from the tableof 64.
2 For World Cup team competitions, video-refereeing is compulsory as soon as the timetableallows the competition to be run on only 4 pistes including the match for 3rd place, but
excluding the other ranking matches.
3 For individual and team competitions of the Senior World Championships, video-refereeing is
obligatory as soon as the timetable allows the competition to be run on a maximum of 8
pistes, all equipped for video-refereeing, including ranking matches table 5-8.
4 For individual competitions of the Junior and Cadet World Championships, video-refereeing iscompulsory as soon as the timetable allows the competition to be run on a maximum of 8 pistes,
all equipped for video-refereeing and in any case, from the table of 32.
For team competitions video-refereeing is compulsory from the table of 16, including ranking
matches table 5-8.
5 For individual and team events at the Olympic Games, the video-refereeing system is mandatory
in all three weapons, at all stages of the competition.
Competitions

Individual event
VIDEO, fromTeam event
VIDEO, fromNumber ofpistes equippedwith VIDEO

Senior World Cup
Junior World Cup

T 64

T16

4 or 8

T 1-8

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory

Grand-Prix
Senior WorldChampionships
Junior/Cadet
World
Championships
Senior Zonal
ChampionshipT 64-------------

T 64

T16

T 32
T 64

-------------

4 or 8

T 1-8

T 16(juniors)

8

T 1-8

T 16

4 or 8

T 1-8

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4 or 8Teams andranking
matchesNovember 2023
Junior Zonal
Championship
Veteran WorldChampionships
Zonal
qualifying
events for the
OlympicGames
Olympic Games

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory

not mandatory-------------All pistes--------------

Pools

Mandatory for all phases of the Olympic competition

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Chapter 3
ANTI-DOPING
Anti-doping testingo.106
An anti-doping test must be carried out at all official competitions of the FIE in accordance withthe regulations in Article o.107 and the Anti-Doping Rules of the FIE. It may begin from the startof the competition and applies to fencers who have finished fencing.

o.107
1

Doping is forbidden by the FIE. Any breaking of this rule will incur disciplinary action.

2

Doping is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the anti-doping rule violations set forth in
Articles 2.1 to 2.8 of the FIE Anti-Doping Rules.

3

The FIE has committed itself to the WADA Anti-Doping Code. The FIE Anti-Doping Rules are
based on the WADA ‘Models of Best Practice’ and adopt in their entirety the ‘mandatory clauses’of the above document. The FIE also adopts in full the WADA ‘Prohibited Classes of Substancesand Prohibited Methods’ document.

4

The FIE reserves the right to conduct doping control during competitions — that is, at any
competition organised under its control — as well as out-of-competition.

5

The athletes who participate in FIE competitions undertake to respect the FIE anti-doping Rules,
to use neither prohibited substances nor prohibited methods and to agree to submit to any antidoping control, whether in- or out- of competition;

6

All the details concerning the doping controls at official FIE competitions, as well as out-ofcompetition, are to be found in the articles of the Anti-Doping Rules of the FIE.

7

The penalties and consequences of the penalties arising from violations of the anti-doping rules
are those laid down in the Anti-Doping-Rules of the FIE.

8

Fencers found to have contravened these anti-doping rules will be subject to the procedures
provided for in the Anti-Doping Rules. The publication of test results and decisions relating toapplication of penalties will be announced by the Central Office of the FIE, which alone has theright to bring them to the notice of all member federations.

9

Doping offences committed and penalised in any of the member countries of the FIE will be taken
into account and the penalties (‘sanctions’) will be applied by all member countries of the FIE.

10 Modification of the FIE Anti-Doping Rules falls within the competence of the Executive
Committee.

PART D: PROCEDURES AFTER THE COMPETITIONS
Chapter 1
RANKING
Official FIE individual rankingo.108
1 Principlesa) The official Senior ranking of the FIE takes into account the best five results of the World Cup,
Grand Prix or Satellite competitions in which the fencer has participated, irrespective of continent,
plus the World Championships or Olympic Games and the Zonal Championships.
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b) The official Junior ranking of the FIE takes into account the best six results of the World Cup
competitions in which the fencer has participated, irrespective of continent, as well as the WorldChampionships and the Zonal Championships.
c) For both Senior and Junior rankings, the ranking is rolling.
The competitions are numbered in order of the dates provided in the calendar and by competition
category (World Cup, Grand Prix or Satellite events).
The points awarded in event 1 of the current season replace the points awarded in event 1 of theprevious season and so on.
If an event is cancelled during the current season, the points acquired during the corresponding
event of the previous season will be deleted on the date assigned to this event in the calendar of
the current season.
d) In the event of equal points, the ranking is based on who has gained the most first places, thensecond places, etc.
If there is a complete tie, the fencers are ranked equal.
e) After each competition which is taken into account to establish the ranking, this is updated
automatically after verification of the results by the FIE.
f) Except where special rules apply, the official up-to-date FIE ranking is the deciding factor for all
rankings, seedings, exemptions, etc.
2 Scale of pointsa) The ranking of Seniors and Juniors is based on the following points system:
1st place
2nd place
3rd place ex aequo
5th–8th places
9th–16th places
17th–32nd places
33rd–64th places
65th–96th places
97th-128th

32 points
26 points
20 points
14 points
8 points
4 points
2 points
1 point
0.5 point

129th-256th

0.25 pointb) Points obtained in an individual World Cup competition are multiplied by a factor of 1.
c) Points obtained in a Grand Prix and a Zonal Championship competition of the FIE are multiplied
by a factor of 1.5.
d) Points obtained in the individual events of the Senior World Championships and in the JuniorWorld Championships are multiplied by a factor of 2.5.
e) Points obtained in the individual events of the Olympic Games are multiplied by a factor of 3.0.
At the Olympic Games, fourth place is awarded 54 points.
f) Only fencers who have actually participated in a direct elimination table can receive any points.
3 Honours
The winner (first ranked fencer) of each senior official ranking of the FIE will be announced at
the end of the Senior World Championships or Olympic Games.
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November 2023
The winner (first ranked fencer) of each junior official ranking will be announced at the end of the
Junior World Championships.

o.109
1

Official team ranking of the FIE

2

Principlea) The official Senior team ranking of the FIE takes into account a team’s best four results in the
Senior Team World Cup competitions, irrespective of continent, plus the Senior WorldChampionships or the Olympic Games and the Zonal Championships.
The official Junior team ranking of the FIE takes into account a team’s best four results in the
Junior Team World Cup competitions, irrespective of continent, plus the Junior WorldChampionships and the Zonal Championships.
The official team ranking of the FIE is rolling and updated on a permanent basis:
Team World Cup events are numbered in order of their scheduled dates in the calendar.
The points awarded in Event 1 of the current season replace the points awarded in Event 1 of theprevious season and so on.
If an event is cancelled during the current season, the points acquired in the corresponding eventof the previous season will be deleted on the date allocated to that event in the current season's
calendar.
b) Should several teams have equal points, the same rules shall apply as for the official FIE
individual ranking (cf. o.108)c) Except where special rules apply, the updated official team ranking is the deciding factor for all
rankings, seedings, etc.
2 Team scale of pointsa) The ranking will be based on the following scale of points:
1st place 64 points
2nd place 52 points
3rd place 40 points
4th place 36 points
5th place 32 points
6th place 30 points
7th place 28 points
8th place 26 points
9th place 25 points

10th place
11th place
12th place
13th place
14th place
15th place
16th place
17th–32nd

24 points
23 points
22 points
21 points
20 points
19 points
18 points
8 points

The ranking will be based on the following scale of points:
1st place 64 points
2nd place 52 points
3rd place 40 points
4th place 36 points
5th place 32 points
6th place 30 points
7th place 28 points
8th place 26 points

10th place
11th place
12th place
13th place
14th place
15th place
16th place
17th–32nd
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24 points
23 points
22 points
21 points
20 points
19 points
18 points
8 points

November 2023
9th place 25 points

33rd to 64th

4 points

Application: from season 2024-2025.

b) For the World Team Championships, the points indicated above are multiplied by two.
c) Points obtained in a Zonal Team Championship have a factor of 1.0.

3 Honours
The winner (first ranked team) of each official Junior and Senior team ranking of the FIE will beannounced at the end of the Senior World Championships or Olympic Games.

Chapter 2
NATIONS’ GRAND PRIX RANKING
o.110
The FIE gold medal, which is the Grand Prix des Nations, is awarded each year as follows:
Grand Prix des nations Cadets
Grand Prix des nations Juniors
Grand Prix des nations Seniors
Grand Prix des nations Veterans
In each of the these categories, the Grand Prix des nations will be awarded to the nation which
has won the most gold medals in all the individual and team events of the corresponding WorldChampionships.
If two nations have equal scores, the winner will be the one which has won the most silver
medals.
If there is still equality, the winner will be the one which has won the most bronze medals.
If there is still equality, both nations are declared winners, and both will receive the Grand Prixdes nations.

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37
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38
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PART E - VETERANSBODIES RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANISATION AND CONTROL

Organising Committee Veteranso.111
The Directoire Technique is composed of people who have the experience and competence to organisecompetitions.
The Directoire Technique is composed of four members of different nationalities, one of whom must
represent the country where the competition is held and, if possible, a representative of the country where
the competition will be held the following year. There must be at least one member from each gender.

o.112
Appointment of refereeing, SEMI and medical delegates
Two Refereeing delegates, one SEMI delegate and two Medical delegates must be the members of the
FIE Commissions and be appointed by the FIE Executive Committee following the recommendations of therespective commissions.
For the Veteran World Championships, of the 5 designated delegates there must be at least one of eachgender, if the availability of the delegates and continental representation allow it.

Refereeingo.113
Refereeing at Veteran World Championships is carried out by referees appointed by the Executive
Committee of the FIE, selected by the Refereeing Commission on indication of the Organizing Committee
and Veterans Council.
Referees must attend the refereeing meeting that takes place the day before the World Championships.

AGE OF PARTICIPANTS
o.114
The age groups in veteran competitions are:a) Age group 50-59: Must be at least 50 years old and less than 60 years old in the year of the competition.
b) Age group 60-69: Must be at least 60 years old and less than 70 years old in the year of the competition.
c) Age group 70+: Must be at least 70 years old in the year of the competition.

The age groups in veteran competitions are:a) Age group 40-49: Must be at least 40 years old and less than 50 years old in the year of the competition.
b) Age group 50-59: Must be at least 50 years old and less than 60 years old in the year of the competition.
c) Age group 60-69: Must be at least 60 years old and less than 70 years old in the year of the competition.
d) Age group 70+: Must be at least 70 years old in the year of the competition.
Application : during the test at the 2025 World Championships (not applicable in 2023 and 2024).
39
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Pre-competition procedures
PROGRAMMING
VETERANS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
o.115
1 The programme of the Veteran World Fencing Championships comprises twenty-four events,
eighteen individual – three categories for each weapon - and six team — male foil, female foil, maleepee, female epee, male sabre and female sabre. The programme must be arranged in such a way
as to allow any fencer to participate in all weapons. Team events must be held on the day following
the last championship of the three categories of each weapon.
2 No changes of dates are allowed for any competition, after the release of the programme.
3 Each competition must be held in one single day, avoiding long periods of inactivity.

1 The programme of the Veteran World Fencing Championships comprises thirty-six events, twenty-fourindividual – four categories for each weapon - and twelve team — male foil, female foil, male epee,
female epee, male sabre and female sabre (two categories for each weapon and gender). The
programme must be arranged in such a way as to allow any fencer to participate in all weapons.
Team events must be held on the day following the last championship of the corresponding two
individual categories of each weapon.
2 No changes of dates are allowed for any competition, after the release of the programme.
3 Each competition must be held in one single day, except for team events for which the round ofpools may be achieved the day before direct elimination avoiding long periods of inactivity.

Application: during the test at the 2025 World Championships (not applicable in 2023 and 2024).

INVITATIONS
Invitation to international officials
Veteranso.116
1

Any proposed candidature for organising the Veteran World Championships must be studied at thevenue concerned by an ad hoc delegation designated by the Executive Committee, at the invitation of
the candidate federation.

2

The organising committee of the World Championships, who will receive all the entry fees from theparticipating delegations, must, at their own expense, invite the following international officials (touristclass return air fare, accommodation and daily allowances):
a)
b)
c)
d)

The President of the FIE or his representative, who presides over the World Championships
and, in particular, controls the smooth running of the Directoire Technique.
Four members of the Directoire Technique appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE,
one of whom must belong to the organising country (see also o.111).
One member of the SEMI Commission, appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE.
Two members of the Refereeing Commission, appointed by the Executive Committee of the
FIE.
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November 2023
e)f)

Two members of the Medical Commission, appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE.
The referees appointed by the Executive Committee of the FIE.

The officials a) to e) should preferably be selected from the Zone in which the Championships are being
held.

ENTRIES
Veterans World Championships
Entries for competitionso.117
1

The entry of the names of the fencers and all possible replacements, and the entry of teams,
must be made via the FIE website 7 days before the competition at the latest (midnight Lausannetime).
For team entries, the names of the fencers making up the teams may be changed, by informing theorganizers, up to the day before the competition, not later than 4.00 pm (local time).
However, a replacement can be made after this stage, and at the latest at the end of the individual
event, in the case of injury or other medical reason duly certified by the competition medical doctor.

2

Withdrawal of a fencer or team.
After the closing deadline for entries, no named fencer or team may be withdrawn except for injury
or other medical reason or force majeure: the national federation must inform the FIE and theorganizers.

3

Substitution of a fencer.
Until the Wednesday preceding the competition (midnight, Lausanne time), a fencer may bereplaced by another. To do this, the national federation must send to the FIE, by fax or e-mail, awritten request to substitute the fencer.

4Addition of a fencer or a team after the deadline.
From the Wednesday preceding the competition until 12 noon (local time) on the day preceding thecompetition, one or more fencers and/or a team may be added by national federations after
payment to the FIE of a penalty according to the scale in force (cf o.31, table of financial penalties
and fines).

5

Should a fencer or team who have been entered not present themselves to fence, a fine (cf o.31,
table of financial penalties and fines), payable to the FIE, will be imposed to the federation of thefaulty fencer or team, except in cases of properly authenticated ‘force majeure’.

6

The organisers of all official competitions must, at risk of a penalty of a fine payable to the FIE (cfo.31, table of financial penalties and fines), refuse any entry of either fencer or referee not inpossession of an FIE license valid for the current season.

PROCEDURES DURING COMPETITIONS

Composition of the pools for the individual Veterans championshipso.118
The pools are composed taking into account the following orders of strength:41
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1 The fencers ranked from the addition of the results in the previous two Veterans World Championships,
irrespective of age category changes.
Scores are awarded according to the following table:

1st place 80 points

31th place 7 points

61th place 3,2 points

2nd place 65 points

32th place 6,5 points

62th place 3,1 points

3rd place ex aequo 50 points

33th place 6 points

63th place 3 points

5th place 38 points

34th place 5,9 points

64th place 2,9 points

6th place 36 points

35th place 5,8 points

65th place 2,8 points

7th place 34 points

36th place 5,7 points

66th place 2,7 points

8th place 32 points

37th place 5,6 points

67th place 2,6 points

9th place 30 points

38th place 5,5 points

68th place 2,5 points

10th place 28 points

39th place 5,4 points

69th place 2,4 points

11th place 26 points

40th place 5,3 points

70th place 2,3 points

12th place 24 points

41th place 5,2 points

71th place 2,2 points

13th place 22 points

42th place 5,1 points

72th place 2,1 points

14th place 20 points

43th place 5 points

73th place 2 points

15th place 18 points

44th place 4,9 points

74th place 1,9 points

16th place 16 points

45th place 4,8 points

75th place 1,8 points

17th place 14 points

46th place 4,7 points

76th place 1,7 points

18th place 13,5 points

47th place 4,6 points

77th place 1,6 points

19th place 13 points

48th place 4,5 points

78th place 1,5 points

20th place 12,5 points

49th place 4,4 points

79th place 1,4 points

21th place 12 points

50th place 4,3 points

80th place 1,3 points

22th place 11,5 points

51th place 4,2 points

81th place 1,2 points

23th place 11 points

52th place 4,1 points

82th place 1,1 points

24th place 10,5 points

53th place 4 points

83th place 1 points

25th place 10 points

54th place 3,9 points

84th place 0,9 points

26th place 9,5 points

55th place 3,8 points

85th place 0,8 points

27th place 9 points

56th place 3,7 points

86th place 0,7 points

28th place 8,5 points

57th place 3,6 points

87th place 0,6 points

29th place 8 points

58th place 3,5 points

88th place 0,5 points

30th place 7,5 points

59th place 3,4 points

89th place 0,4 points

60th place 3,3 points

90th place 0,3 points
91th place 0,2 points
92th place 0,1 points
93th place and after 0 points

2

All other fencers in order of age, starting from the youngest.

3

The allocation of fencers in the pools must be made in such a way as to place fencers of the samenationality in different pools, as far as possible (staggering).

4

If in any category there are fewer than ten competitors, the competition is held as a poule uniquefollowed by direct elimination.

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5

If in any category there are fewer than 6 competitors, they will fence with the next lower age
category. A separate ranking for that category will be extrapolated from the combined categories’
final rankings at the end of the competition.

6

If in any category there is only one competitor, the event in that category is cancelled.

7

No fencer is eliminated after the pools. All the fencers participate in the direct elimination phase.

VETERANS TEAM EVENTS

o.119
1

Participation
Each country may enter one team per gender and per weapon, thus giving a total of 6 competitions.
The teams shall be composed of fencers who participated in the individual competition of thecorresponding weapon, but c.f. o.103.2 b below.

2

The rules for team competitions are applicable with the following exceptions:a)

For each weapon, the teams are composed of three fencers of the same nationality, one fromcategory "A", one from "B" and one from "C", with or without a reserve for each category. A teamcannot begin the match if it is not complete.

b)

In the case of a team being short of a fencer in any of the weapons, the team may use a fencer who
has competed in the individual championships at another weapon or who is registered but has yet tocompete, but his/her ranking will be deemed to be last in the individual competition at the weapon of
the team in which he is going to fence plus 1.

c)

The teams are placed in the pools according to the ranking of the three fencers in the individual
championship. The team ranked 1 is the one having the lowest total. All the fencers registered forthe team event must be present at the piste before the start of each match.

d)Each team may request, before a given relay, the substitution of a fencer. However, in case of injury
or other medical reason duly recognized by the Medical delegate, the substitution can be immediate,
even during the relay.
There can only be one substitution per team per match.

3

A fencer who has been replaced because of an injury may not fence again during that match. If
both a fencer and the reserve are forced to retire, or if a fencer is excluded, their team is deemed tohave lost the match.

4

The relay system is always applied. The three fencers of a team fence against their opponent of thesame category. Each fencer fences his/her opponent twice giving a total of 6 relays. The relays arefor 5 hits (5-10-15-20- etc.). Exceptionally, a relay may end at more than 5,10,15 etc. if a fencer
scores a valid last hit of the relay and is at the same time awarded an additional penalty hit: in thiscase both hits will be counted; the maximum time for each relays is 3 minutes.

5

The team that first reaches the maximum score of 30 hits, or that which has scored the greatest
number of hits after the expiry of regulation time, is the winner.

6

The order of categories for each match is established by the referee with the captains on the piste
prior to the start of the match: The referee will draw lots and the winning captain will choose the firstcategory in the order. The losing captain will choose the second category.

7

The competition consists of a round of pools of 3 or 4 teams, in which all the teams participate, anda direct elimination phase for the highest placed 16 teams; the other teams will be classified
according to their ranking after the round of pools.
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a)

The order of matches in a pool of 4 is as follows:
Match 1 : The team ranked 1 vs the team ranked 4
Match 2 : The team ranked 2 vs the team ranked 3
Match 3 : The winner of Match 1 vs the loser of Match 2
Match 4 : The winner of Match 2 vs the loser of Match 1
Match 5 and Match 6 : The two remaining matches.

b)

The order of matches in a pool of 3 is as follows:
Match 1 : The team ranked 2 vs the team ranked 3
Match 2 : The team ranked 1 vs the loser of Match 1
Match 3 : The team ranked 1 vs the winner of Match 1
The initial ranking on which the drawing of the pools is based is established from the results of thefencers in the individual events. (cf. o.103.2.c)
The composition of the direct elimination table of 16 teams (or 8 if there are less than 16 teams) isestablished according to the general ranking established by the results of all the teams in the poolround. In the event of an absolute tie between the teams ranked 16 and 17 (or 8 and 9), thehighest ranked team in the initial pool ranking shall qualify.
However, in no case, teams which have already fenced each other in the pools should meet again
immediately in the direct elimination. To avoid this, the lower ranked of the two teams in question
may be moved:--in the case of a tableau of 16, the team ranked 9 may change places only with the team ranked
10, the team ranked 11 may change places only with the team ranked 12, the team ranked 13
may change places only with the team ranked 14 and the team ranked 15 may change places
only with the team ranked 16.
in the case of a tableau of 8, the team ranked 5 may change places only with the team ranked
6 and the team ranked 7 may change places only with the team ranked 8.

8

If fewer than 6 teams participate in the competition, they all fence in a pool unique; a match for the
3rd and 4th places is then held, followed by a match for the first place between the teams whocame 1st and 2nd in the pool.

9

Ranking matches from 5th place onwards will not be fenced and teams will be ranked, in eachround of the table, according to their ranking after the pools.

1. Participation
Each country may enter one team per category (Veterans and Grand Veterans) per gender and per
weapon, thus giving a total of twelve competitions.
The teams shall be composed of fencers who participated in the individual competition of thecorresponding weapon, but c.f. o.103.2 b below.
2. The rules for team competitions are applicable with the following exceptions:
Veterans: teams of three composed of fencers belonging to either age group 40-49 or to age group50-59, with at least one fencer belonging to age group 50-59, plus up to two reserves.
Grand Veterans: teams of three composed of fencers belonging to either age group 60-69 or to age
group 70 and over, with at least one fencer belonging to age group 70 and over, plus up to two
reserves.
Fencing mode is 45 hits relay described in o.99 with application of non-combativity rule at any match.
The competition begins with a round of pools of 3 and 4 teams -established according to o.103 c) - andfollowed by a direct elimination phase according to o.103 7.
Particular cases depending on the number of teams:
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• only 1 team: the organisers must inform all nations that there will be no competition at that weapon.
• 2 teams: only one match between these two teams.
• 3 teams: one poule of three followed by D.E. from an incomplete tableau of 4.
• 4 teams: one poule of four followed by D.E. from a tableau of 4.
• 5 teams: one poule of five followed by D.E. from an incomplete tableau of 8.
The losers of the semi-finals have to fence for the bronze medal.
a) In the case of a team being short of a fencer in any of the weapons, the team may use a fencer who hascompeted in the individual championships at another weapon or who is registered but has yet tocompete, but his/her ranking will be deemed to be last in the individual competition at the weapon of theteam in which he is going to fence plus 1.
b) The teams are placed in the pools according to the ranking of the three fencers in the individual
championship. The number 1 team is the one with the least points. All the fencers registered for theteam event must be present at the piste before the start of each match.
c) Each team may request, before a given relay, the substitution of a fencer. However, in case of injury orother medical reason, duly recognized by the medical delegate, the substitution can be immediate, evenduring the relay.
There can be up to two substitutions of reserves per match but must maintain compliance with the age
category representation requirement.

Application : during the test at the 2025 World Championships (not applicable in 2023 and 2024).

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INDEX TO ARTICLES
Numbers refer to articles of the Rules.
Accident: o.71, o.99 (see TECHNICAL RULES)
Addition of fencers after the deadline: o.56.4, o.61.4/5, o.63.2, o.67.2
Age of participants: o.7, o.29, o.30, o.75, 0.103
A Grade competitions: see «World Cup»A Grade Referee: o.4, o.25
Announcement-change of member of team: o.99
-number of fencers in the final: o.81
-number of fencers promoted from pools: o.72, o.86, o.90
Anti-doping: o.4, o.21.2, o.106, o.107
Apparatus: o.27.4, o.78.2; (see TECHNICAL RULES & MATERIAL RULES)
Appeals (against a decision): o.22; (see TECHNICAL RULES)
Assault: o.5
Attribution of Directoire Technique: see «Directoire Technique»
Attribution of referees: see «Referee (attribution)»
Auxiliary personnel: o.27
Barrage: o.74.3, o.86.2
B Grade Referee: o.4.3, o.25.1
Bureau of the FIE: o.12
Bout (meaning): o.5
Bout (score-sheet): o.27.1, o.99.4; (see TECHNICAL RULES)
Bout (duration): (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.21.4, t.44.4, t.62.3, t.127, t.128)
Bout (end): (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.21.4, t.44.4, t.62.3, t.127, t.128)
Bout (interruption): o.71
Bout (number of hits): o.73.2.d, o.103.5; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.38, t.40, t.41.4)
Bout (order): o.69-71, o.70, o.71, o.80, o.99
Bout (for third place): o.82, o.88, o.94
Bout (rest between): see «Time (between bouts»
Bout (timetable): o.33.1, o.77
Cadets: o.11, o.29.2, o.37, o.38, o.48, o.58, o.59, o.89, o.105, o.110
Calling (bouts): o.80
Calling (fencers — initial): (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.22, t.47, t.118, t.119, t.170)
Candidates (championships/competitions): o.48
Category A (competitions): see (World Cup)Central Office of the FIE: o,11, o.107.8; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.143)
Championships: o,9Change (in order of bouts): see «Bout (order)»Circumstances outside control:o.16.1, o.19.3, o.20.1, o.21.1, o.56, o.87.3, o.99
Classification: see «Indices»-after the pools: o.73, o.76, o.82.5, o.86
-FIE: o.68, o.85.3, o.87.1, o.108-110-general: o.73, o.79, o.82, o.88, o.94
-Individual World Championships: o.108-Team World Championships: o.109- table: o.73, o.76
-teams: o.98, o.101
Clock: o.78
Coefficient (FIE ranking): o.108.2, o.109.2
Competition formula: o.41, o.42.4, o.66, o.83-88, o.89-94, o.95, o.96, o.97-99, o.100-102, o.104
Competitions (general rules): o.1-3-individual: o.66-96-team: o.97-103
Composition: see «Team», «Pool»
Confirmation of participation: o.56
Continental zone: o.42, o.52, o.89-94, o.97-99, o.100, o.105, o.108-109
Control (doping): see «anti-doping»
Control by FIE: o.12, o.48, o.54, o.107.2
Criteria for World Cup: see «World Cup»
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Deadlines (equipment checking/displaying first round): o.35
Deadlines (sending out invitation/pre-programme): o.46-47, o.51-53
Deadlines (entries): o.55-56
Deadlines (referee entries): o.25
Discipline: o.12.2, o.17.4, o.20.4, o.107.1
Direct elimination: o.5, o.16, o.66, o.76-82, o.83-88, o.86s, o.89-94, o.98, o.102, o.103.7, o.108.2.f
Direct elimination table: see «Table (direct elimination)»
Directoire Technique: o.11, o.12, o.14, o.27, o.15-17, o.38, o.48, o.50.2, o.54.1, o.63.3, o.67.1, o.70.2,
o.72, o.87.6, o.99.5/8
Display (decisions of the Directoire Technique): o.15.4, o.27, o.38.2
Display (pools, direct elimination, scores): o.27, o.35, o.77, o.85
-first round of pools: o.35 (see TECHNICAL RULES)-score: o.27
DNF: o.74.3, o.79
DNS: o.74.1
Doctor: o.4.9, o.61.1, o.101; (see TECHNICAL RULES t.45, t.116, t.170)
Doping: o.4, o.21.2, o.106, o.107
Drawing lots (individuals when indices equal): o.68, o.73, o.85-86
Drawing lots (non-classified teams): o.98, o.102
Drawing lots (order for pool or match sheet): o.68, o.99, o.103
Drawing lots (to decide winner if scores equal): o.73; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.38, t.40, t.41)
Drawing lots (in pairs): o. 87, o.102
Drugs: see «Anti-doping»End of bout: o.99, o.20.4; (see Technical Book, t.21.4, t.44.4, t.62.3, t.127, t.128)
Entries: o.17, o.31, o.41.2.b, o.56-57, o.59-64, o.85.2, o.87.2
Entry fee: o.24.2, o.26.2, o.48, o.50.2
Entry form: o.55-56
Equality (of indices): o.73, o.85.5, o.103
Equality (of points):o.108,1.d, o.109.2.b, o.110
Equality (of ranking): o.82, o.85.5, o.88, 0.94, o.103
Equality (score at end of time): (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.38.2, t.40.3, t.41.5, t.62.3, t.124)
Equipment (checking): o,19.2, o.28, o.34, o.54.2
Equipment (organisation): o,4.4, o.10
Excluded: o.74.3, o.79
Exclusion (fencer): o.99.7.b
Executive Committee: o.13, o.16, o18, o.22.5, o.23-o.24, o,26, o.32, o.48, o.50, o.54, o.96, o.104, o.107.10
Exemptions: o.85, o.86.2, o.87, o.108.1.f; see «Seeding»Experts (electrical equipment): o.27
Expiry of time: see «Equality (score at end of time)», «End of bout», «Time (of bout)»
Extra minute: see «Equality (score at end of time)»
Fencers (obligations of): see «Obligation(s)»FIE delegates: o.15-23
FIE Junior Ranking: o.38, o.98.2, o.102, o.108, o.109
FIE Ranking: o.4, o.38, o.68, o.85.5, o.98.2, o.102, o.108-110, o.109, o.110
FIE Supervision: o.12, o.17, o.21, o.22, o.27.3
FIE Supervisor: o.22-23
Finals (of competitions): o.4, o.27.1,o.33.2, o.66, o.83, o.89, o.93 o.81; (see TECHNICAL RULES)
Fine: o.25, o.31, o.51, o.52, o.56, o.61, o.87.3, o.85
Forbidden substances: o.107; see «Anti-doping»
Force majeure: o.56.3, o.61.2/5, o.85.4, o.87.3, o.99.6
Functions of the Referee: see «Referee»
Grand Prix (competitions):o.22.1, o.26, o.40, o.61, o.62, o.67.3, o.83-88, o.105.1, o.108
Grand Prix (nations): o.110
Hits (number): o.73.2.d, o.103.5; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.38, t.40, t.41.4)
Hits (received): o.73; see «Indices»
Hits (scored): o.73, o.99.4; see «Indices»
Indices: o.73, o.86, o.87.4/5, o.93.1,
Individual: see «Competitions (individual)»
Injury: o.21.2.c, o.61, o.99.6, o.101, o.103; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.21.4, t.45, t.170)
International officials: o.48, o.50.2
Interruption of a bout: o.71
Invitation: o.46-47, o.51-53, o.55
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Licence: o.2, o.29.1, o.31, o.61.6, o.63.4
Match: o.6-7, o.19.4, o.27.1, o.33, o.41.2.c, o.82.2/3, o.88, o.94, o.97, o.99, o.101, o.103, o.105
Medical delegate: o.18, o.21, o.48, o.99, o.103
Medical reason: o.21.2.c, o.61, o.99.6, o.101, o.103
Nationality of fencers: o.67.2, o.68.2, o.70.3, o.76
Neutrality: o.27.1, o.44.4; see «Referee»
Notice-board: o.15.4
Number of participating countries (minimum): o.4
Number of fencers: o.25.1, o.56, o.57, o.59, o.60, o.62, o.67.2, o.70, o.72, o.86; see «Entries», «Team»,«Quotas (of fencers for World Cup competitions)»
Number of hits: see «Hits»
Obligation (to confirm participation): o.56s, o.85, o.87
Obligations (of organizers): o.4, o.10, o.22.1, o.24.2, o.26.1, o.27, o.28, o.32, o.34, o.52, o.54, o.77,
o.85.2, o.106
Obligations (of Directoire Technique): o.15-17, o.27, o.38, o.50.2.6, o.54.1, o.63.3, o.67.1, o.70.2, o.71.1,
o.72, o.87.6, o.99.8
Observer (FIE): see «Supervisor»
Official competitions of FIE: o.1-3; see «World Cup», «World Championships», «Olympic Games»
Official FIE rankings: o.4, o.38, o.68, o.85.5, o.98.2, o.102, o.108, o.109, o.110
Olympic Games:, o.3, o.11, o.12, o.16.1, o.20.3, o.35, o.43, o.53, o.64, o.66.c, o.95, o.104-105, o.108-109
Open World Championships: see «World Championships»
Order of bouts: o.69-71, o.80, o.99
Organisation of competitions: o.10-27
Organising Committee: o.10, o.13, o.24. o.46, o.48.2, o.50.2, o,54, o.56
Participants: see «Entries», «Quotas (of fencers for World Cup competitions)»
Penalties (financial):, o.25.2, o.31, o.56.3/4, o.61, o.85.4, o.87.3
Period (direct elimination bout): o.5, o.78.2; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.39)
Phase: o.74.3, o.85-87, o.103, o.105
Piste: o.4.6/7, o.17.3.d, o.87.1, o.80.2, o.93.2,o.105; (see TECHNICAL RULES & MATERIAL RULES)
Points: o.41, o.75, o.101; see «Scale of points»
Pool (composition): o.35, o.38, o.67-71, o.75, o.86, o.90
Position of fencers in pools: see «Order of bouts», «Pool»
Preliminary phase (direct elimination): o.83, o.85-87
President (of the FIE); o.12-13, o.48.2.c, 50.2.c
President (Directoire Technique): o.16.1.c, o.17.4
Prize winners: o.108.3
Programme of events: o.32-33, o.36-37, o.39, o.43
Protests: o.20.2.d; see «Appeals»
Publish (of pools, direct elimination): o.30, o.77, o.85.2; see «Display (pools, direct elimination, scores)»
Qualification of fencers: o.30, o.66, o.72-73, o.82-83, o.86-86, o.89, o.90, o.93
Quarter (of direct elimination table): o.80, o.87, o.93.2
Quarter finals: o.61.1, o.102.2
Quotas (of fencers for World Cup competitions): o.62
Rankings (individual): o.67-68, o.72-73, o.75, o.82.4, 0.86.2, o105, o.108
Rankings (team): o.98, o.99.7, o.102-103, o.105, o.109-110
Referee: o.4.3, o.24-27, o.48.2.f, o.50.2.f, o.54.4, o.61.6, o.71s, o.99.5.a, o.103.6
Referee (Junior World Cup & Satellite events): o.25
Referee (attribution): o.17, o.24, o.54
Refereeing (Committee/Commission): o.18, o.20, o.24, o.26, o.48.2, o.50.2, o.54
Refereeing (delegates): o.18, o.20, o.22, o.54.3
Regional games: o.13, o.44, o.54, o.96
Relay: o.5, o.41.2.c, o.99, o.103,2/4; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.41)
Repairer (electrical equipment): o.27.4
Replacing fencer:,o.56.4, o.61 , o.97, o.99.5/6, o.103
Reserve: o.42.5, o.60, o.97, o.99, o.103
Rest: o.33.1, o.71.2, o.78.1, o.80.3; see «Time (between bouts)»; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.39, t.42)
Result: see «Score»
Round (direct elimination table): o.80, o.82.3, o.86-87, o.89, o.93, o.98.3, o.102-103, o.108.2.fRound (pools): o.4.6, o.35, o.39.3, o.66-67, o.82.4/5, o.83, o.86, o.87.5, o.89, o.92-93, o.103; see «Pool»
Satellite: o.3, o.25, o.45, o.51, o.61, o.108
Scale of points: o.108, o.109
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Score (sheet):o.17.1, o.27.1, o.68.3, o.70, o.99.4; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.38, t.40, t.41, t.45.1, t.50.7,
t.124, t.163, t.168)
Score-board (for finals): o.27
Scorers: o.27; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.47)
Seeding: o.38, o.73, o.85-89, o.108.1.f
SEMI (Committee): o.4, o.18, o.22.3, o.28, o.48.2.c, o.50.2.c, , o.54.2
SEMI (Delegate): o.18-19
Semifinals: o.82, o.88, o.94, o.103
Senior World Cup: o.18.3, o.26.2, o.41, o.51, o.61, o.83, o.100, o.105, o.109.2
Signs (names of fencers): o.4.7
Specialist (personnel): o.27-28
Specification (‘Cahier de charges’): o.4, o.10
Substitution of a team member: o.44.2b, o.56.2, o.61.3, o.99.5, o.103; see «Replacing fencer»
Superintendent of the apparatus: o.27
Supervisor: o.22, o.23
Table (direct elimination): o.5, o.17, o.66, o.76ss, o.86ss, o.89ss, o.98ss, o.102, o.103.7, o.108.2.f
Team (composition): o.41, o.97ss
Team (captain): o.15, o.99, o.103
Team (classification): o.98, o.102-103
Team (replacement of a fencer): o.99
Technical delegate of the FIE: o.13
Testing (anti-doping): o.4, o.21.2, o.106, o.107
Third (place): o.82, o.88, o.94,
Tie (equal scores): o.73, o.108-110; (see TECHNICAL RULES, t.38.2, t.40.3, t.41.5, t.62.3, t.124)
Tie (seeding/indicators): o.73, o.85-87
Tie (third place): see «Third (place)»
Tie (world rankings): o.108-110
Time (between bouts): o.71, o.78, o.80.3; (see also TECHNICAL RULES, t.39, t.42)
Time (maximum participation for fencer): o.33
Time (of bout): see Technical Book, t.38,-t.41
Time-keeper: o.27
Timetable: o.15.4, o.20, o.33ss, o.77, o.105
Tournament: o.8
Video refereeing: o.105
Website, FIE: o.25.1, o.56.2, o.61.1, o.85.2
Withdrawal: o.61.2, o.74, o.79, o.99.7
World Cup: o.3, o.4, o.16.2, o.18.2, o.22, o.25, o.26, o.41, o.51, o.61, o.62, o,67.2, o,83, o.89, o.100,
o.105, o.108-109- Individual World Cup: o.61, o.62, o.83, o.89, o.105, o.108- Junior World Cup: o.25, o.41, o.51, o.61, o.89, o.100- Team World Cup: o.26.2, o.41, o.61, o.100, o.105, o.109
World Championships: o.11-12, o.16.3, o.18.2, o.20.3, o.24, o.26, o.31, o.35-36, o.37-39, o.47-48, o.50.1,
o.55-59, o.63, o.103, o.105, o.108, o.109, o.110- Cadet World Championships: o.11, o.37-38, o.48.1, o.58-58, o.89-96, o.105.4- Junior World Championships: o.11, o.30, o.35, o.37, o.48, o.59, o.97, o.89.3, o.105, o.108.2/3,
o.109.3- Senior World Championships: o.35-36, o.48, o.55, o.57, o.105, o.108-109- Veteran World Championships: o.11, o.16.3, o.18.4, o.26, o.29, o.39, o.63, o.50, o.75, o.103
World Championships (formula):- Senior individual events: o.83-88- Junior and Cadet events: o.89-96- Team events: o.97-99
Zonal Championships:- Junior: o.60, o. 89-96, o.100-102- Senior: o.42, o.55, o.60, o.89-96, o.100-102, o.105, o.108.2.d

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