Bolt’s disqualification raises doubts over ‘false start’ rule

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Daegu, August 30: The disqualification of Olympic champion Usain Bolt at the World Championships has triggered a debate, whether the ‘false start’ rule should be changed.

Top athletes could miss finals and their chances of winning medals if the rule remains the same, which could be a disaster at the Olympics Games in London next year.

“It would be a mistake to quickly reverse the decision. It is not on any current agenda but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were reviewed. We will have to go back and talk to our stakeholders and discuss further,” ” Bob Hersh, vice president, International Association of Athletics Federation was quoted, as saying by The BBC.

The IAAF, which has three board meetings a year, are next scheduled to meet on Sunday in Daegu, where the modification of the rule will be discussed.

Bolt, who holds the world record in the 100m category had been an advocate of the policy of immediate disqualification for setting off before the gun, which came into effect in January 2010.

“I have no problem, I never false-started yet. It will be better for the sport. It will be a problem for some people but not for me,” Bolt told a Jamaican paper in 2009. (ANI)