Athletes competing in many Race Walk events are subject to Shoe Control. When world ranking points, international team places and world/area/national records (etc.) are at stake, only shoes listed as permitted for Race Walking on the World Athletics Certcheck list as of the day of the race are permitted for use. Any violation of the World Athletics footwear rules may result in disqualification and loss of results achieved during the event.

The World Athletics list is updated regularly at: https://certcheck.worldathletics.org/FullList

Background: 

Shoe Control is analogous to drug control. If someone uses illegal shoes, they get DQed. If they dodge and weave around the shoe control officer to avoid a shoe check, it’s like avoiding a drug test and they will be reported to the WA Athletes Integrity Unit. 

On the other hand, this isn’t a mechanism to force masters and newbies to buy expensive racing shoes. In those instances, common sense means allowing in any shoe that would be compliant if the manufacturer applied to World Athletics in the peripheral races. (Masters, Youth 3 km, etc.) This is inline with the World Athletics guidance for shoe control.

Essential Guidelines:

No one can wear a shoe that fails to comply with the WA rules for RW footwear. (No more than one plate, and sole height must be less than the 40mm Road/Track limit.)

Athletes in contention for World Ranking points, national team places or records can ONLY wear shoes listed for Race Walking on the World Athletics online list.

Process: