Chapter 3: Penalties — World Triathlon Competition Rules

3.1 General Rules p. 33

a.) Failure to comply with the World Triathlon Competition Rules may result in an athlete being verbally warned, issued with a time penalty, disqualified, suspended, or expelled;
b.) The nature of the rule violation will determine the subsequent penalty;
c.) A suspension or an expulsion will occur for very serious violations of either the World Triathlon Competition Rules or the World Triathlon Anti-Doping Rules;
d.) Infringements and penalties are listed in Appendix K;
e.) The Technical Officials are allowed to determine penalties, even if the infringement is not included in the Competition Rules, if the Technical Official deems an unfair advantage has been gained, or if a dangerous situation has been created intentionally;
f.) Under exceptional circumstances Technical Officials may modify penalties defined in the Competition Rules in accordance with the spirit of the rules.

3.2 Warning p. 33

a.) The purpose of a warning is to alert an athlete about a possible rule violation and to promote a "proactive" attitude on the part of Technical Officials. Also, a Technical Official can determine a warning to an athlete to correct a minor infringement;
b.) A warning may be given when:
(i) An athlete violates a rule unintentionally;
(ii) A Technical Official believes a violation is about to occur;
(iii) No advantage has been gained.
c.) Giving a warning: The Technical Official will blow their whistle, the athlete will be stopped if necessary, asked to modify their behaviour, and be allowed to continue the competition immediately afterwards;
d.) It is not necessary for a Technical Official to give a warning prior to issuing a penalty for a more serious rule violation for which the athlete may be disqualified, suspended, or expelled.

3.3 Time Penalty p. 33

a.) A time penalty is an appropriate penalty for infringements, which do not warrant a disqualification;
b.) Time penalties will be served in a specific location as indicated in the table below. Stopping In a different location will be considered as a penalty not served;

	Elite Draft Legal	Elite Draft-illegal Para triathlon	Age-Group
Start	T1		T1
Swim	Run penalty box	Run penalty box	T1
Transition 1	Run penalty box	Run penalty box	Time Penalty on the spot
Bike	Run penalty box	Bike penalty box	Bike penalty box
	Run penalty box	Run penalty box	Transition 2 Time Penalty on the spot
Run	Run penalty box / On the spot*	Run penalty box / On the spot*	Warning/Time Penalty on the spot

Notes: All the references to Elite include Elite, U23, Junior and Youth athletes. In the Winter Triathlon run penalty box is replaced with ski penalty box. In Duathlon and Aquathlon events, run penalty box means 2d run penalty box.

During the second half of the run segment.

c.) Technical Officials will decide when an athlete needs to be penalised with a time penalty;
d.) There are two types of infringements penalised with time penalties:
(i) Drafting infringements as defined in 5.5;
(ii) Other infringements. See appendix K for list.
e.) Time penalties vary depending on the type of infringement:
(i) Drafting infringements:
3 minutes in long distance events;
2 minutes in middle distance events;
1 minutes in standard distance events;
30 seconds in sprint and shorter events.
(i) Other infringements:
1 minute in long distance events;
30 seconds in middle distance events;
15 seconds in standard distance events;
10 seconds in sprint distance and Relay events;
5 seconds in events shorter than sprint distance.

3.4 Penalty notification p. 34

a.) The Technical Official will determine the time penalty, and notify the athlete as soon as it is safe to do so:
(i) Drafting infringements:
Sounding a whistle, showing a blue card, calling in English the athlete's number and saying "Drafting penalty, you have to stop at the next penalty box". The Technical Official has to ensure the athlete received the penalty notification.
Will be served in the Bike penalty box;
(ii) Time penalty to be served at the Run penalty box:
Penalties must be posted on the board before the athlete reaches the penalty box as the following:
In case of 1 lap run, until the athlete reaches the penalty box on the 1st lap;
In case of 2 laps run, until the athlete reaches the penalty box on the 1st lap;
In case of 3 laps run, until the athlete reaches the penalty box on the 2nd lap;
In case of 4 laps run, until the athlete reaches the penalty box on the 2nd lap;
In case of 5 laps, until the athlete reaches the penalty box on the 3rd lap;
Etc.

(ili) Other infringements:

Infringements served in Transition 1: Athletes will serve this penalty in transition 1 before touching any equipment. A Technical Official will be positioned by the athlete's transition spot, who will sound a whistle, show a yellow card and time the penalty;
Infringements served in the Bike penalty box: Sounding a whistle, showing a yellow card, calling in English the athlete's number and saying "Time penalty, you have to stop at the next penalty box". The Technical Official has to ensure the athlete receives the penalty notification;
Infringements served in the Run penalty box: Athletes may be notified about penalties by displaying the athlete's number, followed by an "x" + a number in case it is more than one infringement, and a letter code indicating the nature of the infringement on a panel posted at the Run penalty box. It is the athlete's responsibility to check this board (See the letter codes below):
3.5 Procedure while serving a time penalty:
a.) The Technical Official applying the time penalty is not required to give a reason for the penalty;
b.) When given a blue or yellow card, the athlete will follow the instructions of the Technical Official;

D	Dismount Line Violation
S	Swim Conduct
M	Mount Line Violation
B	Bike Behaviour

E	Equipment Outside bin
L	Littering
V	Other Violations
R	Run Behaviour

c.) Time penalty in Transition 1 (for any infringements up to this point):
(i) Athletes who are given a time penalty have the option to decide whether to stop at the Transition 1 and serve the penalty or continue to the finish. Not stopping will result in disqualification on crossing the finish line. The athlete may then protest the penalty. Evidence will only be made available if a protest is lodged ;
(ii) The Technical Official will hold a yellow card as the penalised athlete arrives at his/her position. The athlete will be ordered to stop in his/her transition space without touching any of their equipment, the Technical Official will start the timing. If the athlete touches or removes any of their equipment the Technical Official will ask the athlete to stop touching the equipment and the time will be paused. Once the athlete complies the count will continue;
(i) When the penalty time has been completed, the Technical Official will say "Go" and the athlete can continue with the competition.
d.) Time penalty at the Bike penalty box:
(i) The penalised athlete's race numbers are not displayed in a bike penalty box. It is the athlete's responsibility to report to the next penalty box on the course after receiving notification;
(i) The penalised athlete will enter the penalty box, dismount the bike and inform the Technical Official of their race number, the number of penalties to serve and the colour of card(s) received. The time penalty starts when the athlete complies with all above and ends when the Technical Official says "Go", at which time the athlete may continue with the competition. If the athlete leaves the area, the Technical Official will ask the athlete to return and the time will be paused. Once the athlete complies the count will continue. For PTWC athletes the count will start once the athlete is totally stopped;
(iii) While in the bike penalty box, athletes can consume only the food and/or water that is on the athlete's bike or person;
(iv) Athletes are prohibited from using the restroom while serving a penalty in the bike penalty box. The time of penalty will be paused while using the restroom;
(v) Making adjustments to equipment or performing any type of bike maintenance while serving a penalty in the bike penalty box is prohibited.
e.) Time penalty at the Run penalty box:
(i) Athletes who are given a time penalty have the option to decide whether to stop at the penalty box and serve the penalty or continue to the finish. Not stopping will result in disqualification on crossing the finish line. The athlete may then protest the penalty. Evidence will only be made available if a protest is lodged
(ii) The penalised athletes' race numbers are clearly displayed on a board at the penalty box;
(iii) The penalised athlete will proceed into the penalty box and inform the Technical Official of their race number and number of penalties to serve. The time penalty starts when the athlete complies with all above and ends when the Technical Official says "Go", at which time the athlete may continue with the competition. If the athlete leaves the area, the Technical Official will ask the athlete to return and the time will be paused. Once the athlete complies the count will continue;
(iv) The penalised athlete's number will be removed from the board once the penalty is served;
(v) A penalised athlete may serve their penalty on any lap of the run;
(vi) For infringements occurring on the second half of the run, the time penalty will be served on the spot.

f) Time penalty on the spot

(i) The Technical Official will hold a yellow card in front of the penalised athlete. The athlete will be ordered to stop safely by the side of the run course. If the athlete moves forward the time will be paused. Once the athlete stops again the count will continue;
(ii) When the penalty time has been completed, the Technical Official will say "Go" and the athlete can continue with the competition;

3.6 Disqualification p. 37

a) General

(i) A disqualification is a penalty appropriate for severe rule violations, such as but not limited to, repeated bike draft infringements, and/or dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct;

b.) Assessment:

If time and conditions permit, a Technical Official will assess a disqualification by:
Sounding a whistle;
Showing a red card;
Calling (in English) the athlete's number and saying "Disqualified";
For safety reasons, a Technical Official may have to delay issuing a disqualification.
(ii) Athletes will be informed about the penalties by displaying the athlete's number on the white board posted at the post finish area;
(iii) The athlete and or the National Federation needs to be contacted and informed of the disqualification if this is after the athlete has finished and the penalty has not been posted on the board. The athlete or National Federation must respond within 5 days to the Technical Delegate if they wish to appeal.
c.) Procedure after Disqualification:
(i) An athlete may finish the competition if a Technical Official issues a disqualification.

3.7 Suspension p. 38

a) General

(i) A suspension is a penalty appropriate for a fraudulent or a very severe rule violation, such as but not limited to repeated dangerous or unsportsmanlike conduct;
(i) A suspended athlete will not take part in World Triathlon competitions or competitions sanctioned by National Federations affiliated with World Triathlon during a suspension period.

b.) Assessment:

(i) The Head Referee will submit a report to the World Triathlon Tribunal including all the details of the action, and the reasons to recommend the athlete for suspension. This report will be submitted to the World Triathlon Secretary General within one week of the competition. The World Triathlon Secretary General will inform the affected National Federations.
c.) Suspensions will be assessed by the World Triathlon Tribunal for periods of three (3) months to four (4) years, depending on the violation;
d.) Suspensions based on contriving the World Triathlon Anti-Doping Rules: If the suspension is an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, the athlete will not be able to compete in any other sport whose federation is recognised by World Triathlon, IOC or GAISF and vice versa;

e) Reasons for Suspension

(i) A list of infringements, which may result in a suspension, is described in Appendix K.

f) Disciplinary Notice

(i) When an athlete is suspended, the World Triathlon will notify the concerned National Federation, in writing, within 30 days;
(ii) All suspensions will be announced in the World Triathlon newsletter and communicated to the IOC and respective parties.

3.8 Expulsion p. 38

a) General

(i) Athletes who have been expelled will not participate in World Triathlon competitions or competitions sanctioned by National Federations affiliated with World Triathlon for lite.

b) Reasons for Expulsion

(i) An athlete will be expelled for life for repeated rule violations that incur suspension as the penalty;
(ii) Expulsion due to an Anti-Doping Rule Violation: If the expulsion is for an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, the athlete will not be able to compete in any other sport whose federation is recognised by World Triathlon, IOC and vice versa.

c) Disciplinary Notice

(i) When an athlete is expelled, the World Triathlon will notify the concerned National Federation, in writing, within 30 days;
(ii) Expulsions will be announced in the World Triathlon newsletter and communicated to the IOC and the respective parties.

3.9 Right to Protest p. 39

a.) An Athlete who receives a penalty may protest, with the exception of:
(i) a penalty for a drafting violation; and
(i) a time penalty which has already been served.
b.) If an athlete serves a time penalty, the athlete accepts the penalty, and no protest will be admitted;
c.) If an athlete does not serve a time penalty, he/she will be disqualified but may protest against the disqualification and the decision of the Head Referee to issue the time penalty;
d.) The Competition Jury which receives the protest will decide on the correctness of the decision to issue the time penalty and will either:
(i) Dismiss the protest and confirm the disqualification; or
(ii) Uphold the protest

3.10 Reinstatement p. 39

a.) After suspension, an athlete must apply to the World Triathlon Tribunal for reinstatement.
and reverse the disqualification.