There have GOTTA be other penalties in track besides a DQ. It's just ridiculous how it's always all or nothing. Step on the line, you're outta there. Elbow another guy, that's fine unless the other runner's coach knows how to work the appeals process in which case you're outta there. And they took away the free false start rule since sprinters were abusing it, and now that's draconian as well.
It's because we're too time-focused, and I'm fine with this: any rule violation in a race, and it cannot be a record, sort of like if there's no doping control at a meet. But most rule infractions are in championship races. Here are some ideas for lesser punishments than a DQ:
1) Time penalties. This would be for a minor infraction like stepping on a line early in a distance race or perhaps some sorts of contact early in races. So if you win by 10 seconds you'll be fine, but if you win the lean at the line, the 2-second penalty for cutting a corner too close will cost you.
2) Fines. This is what should happen to Albany. This was a stupid thing to do, but it was completely accidental, and it didn't affect the final result. It wasn't really competition related. The program should be sanctioned in an off-the-track sort of way (and it should be significant here; that was really bad). I would say that uniform violations should fall in the same category.
3) A longer distance to run. Let's have a false start line that's 1m back for the 100, 2m back for the 200, and 3m back for all other events. You false start, you start from that line. Again, and you're out.
4) An in-race alternative to time-penalties if they could manage it would be a cone in lane 5. You step on the line, and you've gotta run out to the cone on the next lap. Or a stop-and-go sort of penalty. Or one where you have to fade to the back of your pack and then move up again.
I'm not saying all of these idea are great, but there's no reason we can't have some penalties in between nah-it's-cool and you're-DQ'd-your-life-is-over-you-might-as-well-not-have-run.
BTW, absolutely the only call they could have made today. Really sucks for Albany though