Cheating on World Athletics’ Front Page

Some days ago, World Athletics published an article about the 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships. It was accompanied by a photo of race walkers in action, and, unmistakably, one of them was running.

The photo was taken at the 2024 championships held in Antalya, in the 20 km race. The athlete caught running was none other than the fourth-place finisher, Yuta Koga from Japan. That was no accident. In fact, Koga received two red cards during the race for “loss of contact.” He was not alone: half of the participants had at least one red card, most of them, like Koga, for loss of contact, and some for “bent knee.”

It may be best at this point to recall the definition of race walking. According to the World Athletics rules in force:

Race Walking is a progression of steps so taken that the walker makes contact with the ground so that no visible (to the human eye) loss of contact occurs. The advancing leg must be straightened (i.e. not bent at the knee) from the moment of first contact with the ground until the vertical upright position.

A race walker who infringes these rules may receive a red card, and after three red cards from different judges, the athlete is disqualified. In fact, the situation is more complex. There is also the yellow paddle, which serves as a caution to warn a walker that they are at risk of breaking the rules, for example, potential loss of contact or bent knee, but it does not count as an official infringement. The yellow paddle is shown to the athlete, while red cards are sent privately to the chief judge. An athlete may accumulate up to three red cards, but upon the fourth, they are disqualified. (The judge signals the disqualification by showing a red paddle.)

All is well and good, were it not for the words in parentheses in the definition of race walking. The loss of contact must be visible to the human eye. Unfortunately, the human eye is not a precise instrument; while photo and video captures reveal infringements, judges often miss them. No harm, no foul, you might say. Perhaps. But the fact remains that race walking has become a discipline in which athletes learn to cheat just enough not to get caught. World Athletics once considered using special sensors in the athletes’ shoes, but following a revolt by race walkers, shelved the project.

And now, they seem to encourage cheating, by featuring a photo of a “race runner” on their own web page.

PS After I had finished writing this article (but hadn't yet published it) World Athletics posted another article on the upcoming Race Walking Team Championships. This time they accompanied it with a photo of the women's 20 km race from two years ago. 

Giorgi was later disqualified with four red cards for loss of contact but Yin finished 12th without a single red card. Well, had I been a judge, I would have given her one.

PS2 And another photo from World Athletics.

They are publishing new ones every day. Fortunately, the competition starts in a few days.