World Triathlon clarifies shoe rules after T100 controversy
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The International Triathlon Federation has published a release to clarify the rules on the use of footwear in competitions, after the controversy generated in the T100 French Riviera with the New Zealander Hayden Wilde and the new ones ASICS Metaspeed Ray.
What the rules say
According to World Triathlon Competition Rules, the technical judges are responsible for verifying that the material complies with the regulations, in coordination with the team of the PTO.
The slippers must comply with what is established World Athletics: a maximum of 40 mm sole and, in addition, have been available on the market for at least one month before being used in competition.
The use of models classified as is also permitted. Development shoes, provided they appear on the official list.
Inspections can be done before, during, or after the race. If there are any questions, the footwear must be sent to World Triathlon Headquarters within seven days for validation.
Equipment protests can only be filed within five minutes of arrival, with an official form submitted within the following fifteen minutes.
London vs Fréjus: the key difference
The London T100, some athletes have already run with the ASICS Metaspeed Ray in the version At the time, the model was included in the World Athletics roster, so its use was completely legal.
Instead, in the T100 French Riviera held in Fréjus, the same shoes did not meet the requirement of having been on the market for a month. Despite this, they were not inspected during the pre-sale inspection due to a procedural error.
After the race, he himself Hayden Wilde shared a statement on its social media recognizing the error:
"I raced the new Metaspeed Rays believing they were the same prototypes I'd used before. It was an honest mistake that I only discovered after the race.
ASICS had sent me instructions, but I misinterpreted the message and didn't understand that it applied to those shoes.
As a professional, it is my responsibility to ensure that the material is approved, and I take full responsibility for not having verified it.
Wilde added that both the Metaspeed Ray and its prototypes meet World Athletics' technical specifications and concluded with a touch of self-criticism: "I'll definitely be spending more time reading my emails."
Why there will be no sanction
World Triathlon explains that, as the protest period has already expired, it is not possible to open an investigation ex post. The regulations themselves (Article 12.10) prevent the Technical Committee from initiating an ex officio procedure regarding equipment after the race has concluded.
Therefore, although it was clear that Wilde competed with a model not yet permitted, the classification will not be modified. The New Zealander retains his victory and the $25.000 prize, in addition to consolidating his position in the T100 circuit standings.
What will happen from now on?
The federation acknowledges the error in the testing and, together with the PTO, has announced that it will strengthen procedures in future events, particularly regarding the inspection of off-field equipment.
This episode has highlighted how narrow the line is between technological innovation and regulatory compliance.
A detail like the availability of a pair of shoes can completely change the outcome of a race and the course of a championship.
