World Athletics introduced a revised rule governing dropped batons in relay events, aimed at improving fairness and clarity for athletes and officials.
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The update, which came into effect on 1 November 2025, removes the requirement for athletes to return to the exact point where a baton was dropped during a race.
Under the previous regulation, athletes were required to retrieve the baton and return precisely to the original drop point before continuing.
However, World Athletics acknowledged that in the intensity of competition, identifying the exact location of the drop is often impractical, while officiating such situations without video review can be challenging.
Moreover, dropping the baton already places a team at a significant competitive disadvantage.
According to the new rule, the baton must be recovered by the athlete who dropped it.
The athlete is permitted to leave their lane to retrieve the baton, provided this action does not reduce the distance to be covered and does not impede any other competitor.
Once the baton is recovered, the athlete may continue the race without returning to the precise drop point.
World Athletics also outlined clear guidance for situations where a baton is dropped in an inside lane. In such cases, the athlete must pick up the baton and return to their own lane before resuming the race.
Failure to do so—particularly if the athlete runs in an inside lane on a bend after retrieving the baton—will result in disqualification.
Additionally, World Athletics reiterated that the baton must be carried by the relevant athlete when crossing the finish line for the relay leg to be deemed valid.
The updated regulation is designed to simplify officiating, reduce unnecessary confusion during races, and maintain competitive integrity across relay events.
