The most important decisions taken at the last meeting of the World Athletics Council, which took place on March 18-19, 2026 In Toruń:
1. Designated organizers of future World Championships
- 2028 World Indoor Championships – Bhubaneshwar, India;
- 2030 World Indoor Championships – Astana, Kazakhstan;
- 2028 World Team Sport Walking Championships – Hefei, China.
2. Approved updated qualification model for the World Athletics Championships and Olympic Games
- 40% of athletes will qualify according to the norms;
- 60% of athletes – according to the world ranking.
The current ratio is 50/50.
It has also been established that the results suitable for meeting the standards will have to be achieved in World Rankings category C or higher level competitions.
3. Revised repechage format for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Only those athletes who have actually competed will get a second chance to enter the next stage of the competition (“bona fide effort” principle), i.e. y. the minimum threshold of the result will have to be reached.
In addition, a gap of at least 21 hours between stages has been established.
4. New measures against age fraud
Changes to the rules have been approved that will allow World Athletics and AIU to apply additional age verification requirements in certain cases, especially in preparation for the U20 World Championship.
5. Amending the footwear regulation
It has been decided that athletes will be allowed to wear freely chosen footwear in the ball push, discus and hammer throw competitions, as there is not enough evidence of a significant technological advantage of footwear in these competitions.
It was also clarified that athletes (pacemakers) wearing footwear that does not comply with the rules will not be able to dictate the pace in running competitions – this will be considered unauthorized aid.
6. Russian Athletics Federation – Anti-Doping Conditions
The Council acknowledged that the Russian Athletics Federation had fulfilled all previously established anti-doping conditions.
However, it is noted that this decision relates only to anti-doping compliance and does not change the restrictions currently in force due to the war in Ukraine.