Kipsang False Start---Should be a DQ

It's an interesting question. Rules are rules, but what are the applicable rules for road racing marathons and recognizing world records? Are there any rules governing "false starts" for marathons?I couldn't find any "false start rule" in the "IAAF Competition Rules 2012-2013", in the section governing road races.I found a rule that starters must ensure athletes are behind the line at "On your marks".I found another rule that transponder times (and hand times and FAT times) are acceptable sources for world records.Is there an IAAF (or any other) false start rule for marathons? What are the penalties for violating the rule? Is disqualification reasonable or precedented?

Goucher Needles wrote:

I decline the 10/10. I'm glad that RC chimed in because he's knowledgeable, not because I intended troll him out. Kipsang false started and then broke the WR. He'd clearly have broken the WR anyways, but does that exempt him from jumping the gun. It's a race and there are rules. I think it is important so say, "We are not enforcing the rules," in this case. I think there should be an explanation why. Maybe it could be said that not enforcing the rule would violate the spirit of the rule itself (i.e. Kipsang didn't get an unfair advantage.)

Goucher Needles wrote:

Kipsang false started and then broke the WR. He'd clearly have broken the WR anyways, but does that exempt him from jumping the gun. It's a race and there are rules. I think it is important so say, "We are not enforcing the rules," in this case. I think there should be an explanation why. Maybe it could be said that not enforcing the rule would violate the spirit of the rule itself (i.e. Kipsang didn't get an unfair advantage.)

People have misunderstood what Renato seems to be trying to say, which is that what counts for official time is the gun time. If you start before the gun goes it doesn't matter what your chip time is, whether it is a half second faster because you jumped the gun or whatever the case may be, as your official record-worthy time starts at the gun. Thus there is no inherent advantage or penalty to jumping the gun, although I imagine something really excessive would have consequences. In track races I don't believe this is the case, hence the false starts there.

Patrick Makau, is that you???

Goucher Needles wrote:

I'm watching the USN delayed coverage of Berlin, knowing that Kipsang won. It is very clear that he jumped the gun---the commentators even joked about it. The IAAF should disallow his world best. This may seem ridiculous in a marathon, but a false start is a false start.

The Last time I checked, All major Marathons are chipped timed. He could've started in the middle of the pack if he wanted too. The chip starts your time, not the gun. No technically, he didn't false start, he just started his chip before anyone ese.

First Canova tells us doping does not give an advantage, now he says a false start doesn't matter either. What next? If someone does a marathon on a bicycle he will argue that their time was legitimate

I have never seen a legitimate 10/10 given. Very cool. Maybe even cooler than the WR?

Goucher Needles wrote:

I'm watching the USN delayed coverage of Berlin, knowing that Kipsang won. It is very clear that he jumped the gun---the commentators even joked about it. The IAAF should disallow his world best. This may seem ridiculous in a marathon, but a false start is a false start.

Can you please reference the IAAF Competition Rule(s) that you claim Wilson Kipsang broke?

10/10 nice work

Very good point. If a long jumper oversteps the take off board by 1 cm but breaks the WR by 1 m they will be given a no-jump. Rules need to be followed in track and field or else chaos will ensue. The IAAF needs to look into this and take action.

Pizzaguy wrote:

I have never seen a legitimate 10/10 given. Very cool. Maybe even cooler than the WR?

Only on LR.

Given what this little conversation has shown about start and timing practices, not to mention variations in conditions from course to course, it seems ludicrous to time marathons to anything finer than the nearest second (or 5 seconds?).

Of Course, David is right as one of the world's most recognized and prominent LDR Technical Officials that records are based on gun times not net, timed by hand held watches. The times are rounded up to the next whole second The hand timers are instructed to start their watches at the first surge or break of those on the starting line. Transponder times are also often rounded up.