By Kang Seung-woo
Following Usain Bolt’s bitterly disappointing disqualification at the World Championships in Athletics in Daegu Sunday, the world’s governing body of athletics’ tightened new rule on those who jump the gun is again a hot issue.
In August 2009, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) came up with a new regulation stipulating that any athlete who commits a false start is immediately disqualified.
The rule took effect Jan. 1, 2010.
However, local fans who anticipated seeing the world’s fastest man competing here, complain that the rule blocks them from enjoying races.
“It is ridiculous to exclude a competitive athlete from a race for just one mistake,” said Park Hyun-wook, who resides in Daegu and plans to visit Daegu Stadium to watch the championships.
“I think that there should be one more chance at least. On the blocks, anyone can get nervous.” Bolt, the reigning Olympic and world champion, was eliminated from the final of the men’s 100 meters after moving too soon.
Until the 2009 world championships in Berlin, a runner was disqualified only after a second false start.
Some complained that adopting the one falsestart, immediate disqualification rule in Daegu would make spectators lose interest in athletics.
“There are growing chances that high-profile athletes can be eliminated from races by a false start, which may result in lowering interest from local fans,” an Internet user said on a portal site.
However, a high-ranking official of the nation’s ruling body of the sports defended the new rule, citing several advantages.
“First of all, the new rule can save time,” said Nam Sang-nam, an executive director of the Korea Association of Athletics Federations.
The IAAF, which aims at putting an end to deliberate cheaters, said that the old system favored those who tactically committed a first false start to put their opponents on edge.
“I am absolutely in favor of the ‘no start’ rule. I felt that the current rule gives sprinters the chance to play the system — to deliberately false start but not be punished for it,” said IAAF President Lamine Diack when the old rule was still in place.
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