New false start rule adopted by IAAF

[golfdane]

http://berlin.iaaf.org/news/kind=101/newsid=52689.html

Major decisions:

No False Start

The following proposal was approved:

“Except in Combined Events, any athlete responsible for a False Start shall be disqualified.”

“In Combined Events only one false start per race shall be allowed without disqualification of the athlete(s) responsible for the false start. Any athlete(s) making further false starts in the race shall be disqualified from the race.”

Vote:

Yes - 97
No - 55


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/12/ap/sportsline/main5236062.shtml

Jorge Salcedo, the head of the technical commission of the IAAF, said the current system favored cheaters who deliberately committed a first false start to put their opponents on edge.



Yeah, right.... and the new rule takes away some of the advantage a fast starter has, even though he or she isn't a regular false starter (it will take the edge of anyone!).
IMHO, IAAF has made a major error, all to please TV, and their precious broadcast planning.....
Not all false starts are done to "cheat". My guess is less than 50%, and the rest are triggered by an outside stimuli (noise, insects, movement), rather than any desire to jump the gun.
And why are athletes in the combined events not affected by the rule change? Don't they jump the gun???

Ridiculous. Either keep the rules as they are/were, or it should cover combined events as well. There is no reason why it shouldn't cover them as well.....

[powerplant42]

Let's keep in mind that it cuts down on time, a definite plus...

But of course records won't be set as often now.

[golfdane]

Let's keep in mind that it cuts down on time, a definite plus...

But of course records won't be set as often now.

True, but personally, I think it's a dumba.. way to try to fix this (IMHO small) problem. IMHO, it does NOT take away any excitement, and I don't buy the argument by some TV networks, that viewers switch channel.

Also, when they did make the rule change, why was it not for the combined events as well?? If their argumentation should hold any water (that athletes tries to guess the gun, and thereby cheat), that must go for heptathletes/decathletes as well.

IMHO, this will only create more "negative" drama (made for TV). The start is a technical part of sprinting, and faults do happen (that are not the result of any conscious effort to cheat).