The ITU have ruled that from the 2018 season onwards an athlete cannot physically assist the forward progress of another athlete on any part of the course. This will result in both athletes being disqualified.

If this rule had been in place during the 2016 WTS final in Cozumel both Alistair and Jonny Brownlee would have been disqualified following Ali’s actions to help his brother across the line. 

Other rules passed by the International Triathlon Union Executive Board include allowing disc brakes, and the prohibited use of communication devices of any type, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smart watches and two-way radios during a competition in a distractive manner. Also, cameras, phone cameras and video cameras are prohibited unless permission is given by the ITU.

In Paratriathlon, from now on there will be nine sport classes as a replacement of sub-classes for PTVI and PTWC, with six Paratriathlon medal events remaining as in 2017

To avoid athletes withdrawing from events in the weeks prior, National Federations will only have 48 hours to do any substitutions or withdrawals. Penalties for doing so after 30 days before the event can be avoided with the “joker” rule, with a specific amount of opportunities federation by federation.

 “Our Technical Committee along with various other committees and the Sport department has worked really hard during this year to adapt our rules to the new circumstances and try to have a safer and fairer field of play ever”, said ITU President and IOC member, Marisol Casado.

“Our team has studied all cases and possibilities and applied new rules, changed some that were obsolete or updated some other in order to guarantee the best conditions for all our athletes. We also wanted to provide a fantastic and engaging spectacle in every single one of our events, and with those changes, I am sure we will”, said Gergely Markus, ITU Sport Director.

Click here to read all the Competition Rules

Click here to read all the Paratriathlon Classification Rules

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