Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Qualification
Qualification rules for athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Qualification for the athletics competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics was governed by a set of rules established by the IAAF, with the qualification period ending on 11 July 2016. The system determined which athletes and relay teams could participate in the Games.
Quick Facts
- Qualification end date
- 11 July 2016
Facts from the source article.
Russian disqualification
Due to the suspension of the Russian Athletics Federation by the IAAF over widespread doping violations, Russia was unable to send an athletics delegation to the Games unless the suspension was lifted. The IAAF confirmed its decision on 18 June 2016 after a task force report indicated Russia had not fully addressed its doping culture. The IAAF allowed for individual Russian athletes who had been sufficiently tested outside the Russian system to apply for exceptional eligibility. On 24 June, the IAAF stated that such athletes could compete as neutral athletes rather than for Russia. Yuliya Stepanova became the first neutral athlete qualified under these rules on 1 July 2016, and Darya Klishina also received permission; both competed as Independent Olympic Athletes. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld the IAAF's verdict on 21 July 2016, rejecting an appeal by 68 Russian athletes. Stepanova was eventually barred from competing by the IOC and faced death threats in Russia.
Qualifying standards
A National Olympic Committee could enter up to three qualified athletes per individual event if all met the entry standard, and up to one relay team per event. NOCs without any athlete meeting the standard could enter one athlete per sex regardless of time, ensuring every nation could have at least two representatives. Qualifying times could be obtained at IAAF-approved outdoor meets and indoor meets, except for 100 m, 200 m, and 110/100 m hurdles races. The qualifying period for the 10,000 m, marathon, walks, and combined events ran from 1 January 2015 to 11 July 2016; for other events, it was from 1 May 2015 to 11 July 2016. For relays, a maximum of sixteen NOCs qualified per event. The top eight teams at the 2015 IAAF World Relays secured spots for their NOCs, and the remaining eight were selected from the IAAF World Ranking List as of 12 July 2016 based on the aggregate of the two fastest times by NOCs. Marathon runners finishing in the top 20 of the 2015 IAAF World Championships or top 10 of any IAAF Gold Label marathon within the qualification period were treated as having earned the A standard. NOCs could select athletes using their own rules, provided all had made the qualifying time; for example, the United States used its Olympic Trials, while Sweden entered only athletes assessed as capable of reaching at least eighth position.
More in Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced