The Electronic Telegraph
Thursday 2 August 2001
SPRINTER Maurice Greene has hit out at a new starting rule the International
Amateur Athletic Federation are hoping to introduce in 2003.
On arriving in Edmonton for his bid to win a third successive World
Championship 100 metres title, Greene blasted plans for a change in the
false start system.
The world record holder said: "It ain't going to stop me in what I'm going
to do here. Now's not the time to worry about it. But they should have left
it alone."
The IAAF and its technical committee yesterday decided that in races up to
400 metres one false start will be allowed, but that any athlete
subsequently false starting will be disqualified immediately.
"At least that's an improvement on the earlier one," said Emmanuel Hudson,
manager of Greene, the 100 metres Olympic champion who arrived Canada for
the Championships which begin on Friday.
Originally the IAAF Council intended asking Congress to approve a 'sudden
death' disqualification for athletes making a false start in the sprint
events.
Greene and fellow American Marion Jones, the Olympic 100m and 200m gold
medallists, have headed protests against that proposal from fellow athletes
worldwide.
Istvan Gyulai, the IAAF general secretary, said: "I must emphasise this is
only a proposal we are making to Congress. In the Council meeting there were
two proposals - no false starts or one false start, like in swimming.
"At the Council meeting in March, Council supported the first option. But in
circumspect and after trials and evaluations it was decided this was not a
good thing. We will recommend the second option to Congress - but I stress
it is for them to decide."
Eamonn Condon
www.RunnersGoal.com
