Posted: January 21, 2006

Triathlon: USAT Headphone Ruling

With the advent of new technology, the use of headphones is very common for many participants in all types of races including triathlons.

Listed below is the current rules on the use of headphones as defined by Charlie Crawford the head USAT Official:

"I'm pleased to report to you that USA Triathlon is very serious about the rigorous enforcement and assessing penalties for headsets, radios, earphones and the like.

In fact there are several rules against that behavior and officials may charge the athlete with violation of ARTICLE III Race Rules "3.4i. Unauthorized Accessories. No participant shall, at any time during the event, use or wear a hard cast, headset, radio or any other item deemed dangerous by the Head Referee. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty."

ARTICLE V Cycling Conduct "5.8 Illegal Equipment. Any participants who any time uses, wears or carries a headset, radio, headphones, or any other item described in Section 3.4(i) shall be assessed a variable time penalty."

ARTICLE VI Running Conduct "6.3 Permitted and Illegal Equipment. Any participant who at any time wears or carries a headset, radio, headphones, or any other item prohibited by Section 3.4(i) shall be subject to a time penalty."

USAT Officials are trained to watch for and penalize anyone violating one of the above rules. Often, an athlete may receive two penalties in the same race for headsets.

USATriathlon.org.

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