Updated rules to be observed at World Athletics Indoor Championships in March
World Athletics has announced a slate of updated rules for its2026 season.
With graphics shared via social media, the organisation highlighted rule changes, some of which were instituted in 2025, that will affect the indoor 400m and 800m relays, as well as the 4x400m relay.
The reminder comes before the slated March 20 start of the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
When batons are dropped in relays, the old rule would require athletes to return to the exact point where the baton was dropped.
World Athletics says the new rule removes the requirement for athletes to return to the exact point where the baton was dropped, noting that in the heat of a race, it is impractical for athletes to locate the precise drop point, and without video review, it is difficult for officials to judge.
Acknowledging that dropping the baton also already confers a significant competitive disadvantage, the organisation says under the new rule, if dropped, the baton shall be recovered by the athlete who dropped it.
The athlete may leave their lane to retrieve it as long as, by doing so, they do not lessen the distance to be covered, and no other athlete is impeded.
However, when crossing the finish line, the baton must be carried by the relevant athlete; this rule came into effect on November 1, 2025.
Changes to the 800m are centred on the breakline.
Used in multiple long-distance events, the breakline is the curved line on the track, marked across all lanes, that signals when runners move from their assigned lanes to the inside lane.
A new breakline for the indoor 800m is introduced, which World Athletics says will give athletes more time and space to spread out, providing a safer racing environment.
The 800m athletes will use the same breakline as the 400m athletes, located around the entrance to the home straight, 165 metres after the start. This rule also came into effect on November 1, 2025.
Regarding the 400m fewer lanes will be used in each heat. The new race format for the World Indoor Championships 400m consists of reducing each heat to four athletes using lanes 3 to 6 only.
The organisation says it made the decision to leave lanes 1 and 2 empty due to their disadvantage on tight indoor curves.
The aim is to ensure fairer racing conditions and enhance the athlete and spectator experience.
World Athletics also noted that the 4x400m relay rule, instituted in March 2025, designates that the waiting athletes on the second, third and fourth leg must arrange themselves based on the position of how their teammates pass the finish line to enter their last lap and cannot change their position.
