World Athletics has unveiled a comprehensive set of rule modifications set to take effect in the 2026 competitive season, with several changes already implemented in November 2025. The international governing body for track and field announced these significant updates through social media graphics, specifically targeting relay events and middle-distance races to improve both competitive equity and athlete safety.
The most notable revision concerns relay race procedures when batons are dropped during exchanges. Under previous regulations, athletes were required to return precisely to the spot where the baton fell—a rule that proved impractical during high-intensity competition and challenging for officials to enforce without video technology. The updated protocol now permits the athlete who dropped the baton to retrieve it from any location, provided they do not shorten their running distance or obstruct other competitors. The fundamental requirement remains that athletes must carry the baton across the finish line.
For indoor 800-meter events, World Athletics has introduced a standardized breakline positioned 165 meters after the start, coinciding with the entrance to the home straight. This breakline—already utilized in 400-meter races—provides competitors additional time and space to transition from assigned lanes to the inside lane, thereby reducing congestion and minimizing collision risks on tight indoor tracks.
Additionally, the organization has modified the format for indoor 400-meter heats at World Indoor Championships. Each heat will now feature only four athletes running in lanes 3 through 6, deliberately leaving lanes 1 and 2 vacant due to the competitive disadvantage posed by tight curves on indoor tracks. This adjustment aims to create more equitable racing conditions while improving the experience for both participants and spectators.
Another previously instituted rule for the 4×400-meter relay, established in March 2025, mandates that waiting athletes must arrange themselves based on their teammates’ positions as they complete their laps and cannot alter their positioning once established.
These regulatory updates come ahead of the World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled to commence on March 20, representing the organization’s continued effort to refine competition standards while prioritizing athlete safety and competitive integrity.