Race in France Needs Medical Certificate

Should be able to find generic form on internet (google it), print it out, have a doctor sign it. I've done this for a number of French races, most require the form.

All races require all participants (no matter their nationality) to give a copy of that paper or show a licence of certain types from certain French sports associations (FFA, UFOLEP, etc.). It is required by law:

http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCode.do?idSectionTA=LEGISCTA000006167042&cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071318&dateTexte=20150604

as soon as you can call the race a "competition". The certificate has to be no older than one year before the race day.

The law requires some pretty specific elements, so I concur that it is a good idea to come to a doctor with a model (or at least knowing the text) if he is not specialised in sports. I think one like that would work:

http://www.caes.cnrs.fr/sport/evenements/ronde-des-semi/modele-certificat-medical.pdf

.

Now, was it a good idea to require a medical certificate? I wonder. Many countries do not require anything and I doubt runners die in big numbers there.

This tripped me up a few years ago as well, but it turned out to be extremely easy and cheap to get the certificate. You go to any local doctor--just walk around your neighborhood and look for a doctor's sign on an apartment building--they are all over the place in Paris. You don't need an appointment. Just get in line in the morning (maybe 9) and tell the doctor that you are a runner and need a certificate to compete in a track meet. S/he probably won't even examine you. It cost me 25 Euros.

A couple of years ago, I signed up for the Paris Half Marathon. I didn't have time to see a doctor. I created a letter in Microsoft Word in English. I signed it myself. I never received any questions about it.