2022 USA Triathlon National and World Triathlon Qualifying Events

Rules and Enforcement Procedures

Customer service to our athletes is a priority and we have listened to your voices. Athletes have made it clear they want to know on the course and during the race if they have received a penalty rather than being notified once they have finished their respective race. In response to the process of rules alignment and in cooperation with stakeholders in our sport, starting in 2022 USA Triathlon National and World Triathlon Qualifying Events in the U.S. will be governed by the following amendments to the Competition Rules.

View a video recorded to help with understanding of these amendments.

National Event Policy for Completion of the Entire Course

The USA Triathlon policy governing decisions on the question of the completion of the entire course of any National Event shall be: “Athletes must complete the entire course as prescribed, including all segments in the correct segment order as prescribed by race management. Any failure to so complete the entire course shall be deemed to constitute an unfair time advantage, regardless of overall timing data for the individual athlete, and shall result in disqualification. Athletes who depart from the course must reenter at the point of departure before continuing.”

On Course Penalty Notification

  • Athletes will be notified of penalties on-course via the international standard blue card/yellow card system and will be notified if they have received a penalty as soon as safely possible. When an athlete is penalized, the official will show the appropriate card for the violation, identify the athlete by their race number, and instruct the athlete to stop as required. Ex. “Athlete #167, blue card. Stop at the penalty tent.”
  • Bike course penalties will be served in a designated penalty area (tent if possible). All other penalties will be served on the course as stand downs. 
  • For the Sprint and Olympic distance races, the bicycle draft zone is10 meters long extending backwards from the leading edge of the front wheel (5 bike lengths of clear space between bikes). A maximum of 20 seconds will be allowed to pass through the zone of another athlete. 
  • For Middle and Long distance races, the bicycle draft zone is 12 meters long extending backwards from the leading edge of the front wheel (6 bike lengths of clear space between bikes). A maximum of 25 seconds will be allowed to pass through the zone of another athlete.
  • At every instance during the overlapping of draft zones, the rear competitor must be seen to be gaining on the forward competitor, motorcycle, or vehicle. Failure to observe this may result in a Blue Card Time penalty for drafting.

Penalty Notification Procedure

  • The athlete will be shown the appropriate card for the violation and identified by their race number.
  • EX.: “Athlete #167, blue card. Stop at the penalty tent.”

Disqualification Penalties

  • For all events failure to stop and serve a penalty or penalties as instructed may result in Disqualification.
  • For events with a bicycle course distance less than 80km, two or more Blue Card Time penalties may result in the competitor being disqualified by the Head Referee at the completion of the event.
  • For events with a bicycle course distance equal to or greater than 80km, three or more Blue Card Time penalties may result in the competitor being disqualified by the Head Referee at the completion of the event.
  • Every attempt will be made to notify all athletes subject to possible disqualification on site and prior to awards. Those athletes will have a full opportunity to discuss the circumstances with the Head Referee for the race prior to a final determination of the penalty.

Olympic-Distance Race

Should a Blue Card be shown for drafting on the bike course, a penalty will be served for 2:00 minutes in the Bike Penalty Tent. A Yellow Card will be issued for all other violations other than disqualifications. A Yellow Card violation will result in a :15-second time penalty to be served in the location as outlined below.

Sprint Distance Race

Should a Blue Card be shown for drafting on the bike course, a penalty will be served for 1:00 minute in the Bike Penalty Tent. A Yellow Card will be issued for all other violations other than disqualifications. A Yellow Card violation will result in a :10-second time penalty to be served in the location as outlined below.

Middle and Long Distance Races

Should a Blue Card be shown for drafting on the bike course, a penalty will be served for 5:00 minutes in the Bike Penalty Tent. A Yellow Card will be issued for all other violations other than disqualifications. A Yellow Card violation will result in a :30-second time penalty for middle distance races and 1:00 minute for long distance races to be served in the location as outlined below.

Enforcement Locations

Race Segment: Penalty Served

  • Start: T1 – spot of infraction
  • Swim: T1 – spot of infraction
  • Transition 1: Warning at T1 – spot of infraction
  • Bike: Bike Penalty Tent
  • Transition 2: Warning at T2 – spot of infraction
  • Run: Warning/Time Penalty on the Spot

Implementation

A penalty area will be designated, and the location communicated to the athletes prior to the event. Signage marking the approach to the Penalty Area will be in place as well as signage at the venue describing the penalty structure and different draft zone and passing time. There may be static visual aids to help athletes understand the length of the draft zone as well as video instructional content available online and at athlete check-in to ensure athletes understand the 2022 USA Triathlon National Events and World Qualifiers Rules and Enforcement Procedures and have an opportunity to seek clarification prior to the event.

Note: Where the above rules do not supersede, the current USA Triathlon Competition Rules will apply.

For questions, please email rulesandofficials@usatriathlon.org.