1. Entering forbidden Areas WOC 2017 & WC Final 2017
IOF HLES, Riga
3-Feb-2017
Urs Hofer

2. WOC 2017 Tartu, Estonia Map Situation
Many artificially blocked roads
Black line (Fence or Wall) plus Out-of-bounds area
Very clear on map

3. WOC 2017 GPS Tracking 3 Runners crossed forbidden section of road
Disqualified by organizers
1 runner complaint & protest
Jury upheld protest & reinstated all 3 runners

4. WOC 2017 Jury Decision
In the Sprint Final a competitor was disqualified for going through a section of street that was shown with uncrossable barriers at each end. The competitor complained and then protested that he should not be disqualified. The street was about 10 metres wide but the barrier was only about 3 metres wide so there was plenty of room either side to pass. Also, there were many spectators and members of the public who were obstructing the athletes’ view of the barrier. The map showed a continuous barrier so it was reasonable for the competitors to expect to find some sort of obstruction. The jury upheld the protest and said that the competitor, plus the two other runners who had been similarly disqualified, should be reinstated.

5. WOC 2017 ‘Live’ Situation Screenshot from live TV coverage
Only one barrier and plenty of open space along the building

6. WOC 2017 Possible Solution
If fence is drawn then obstacle must be clearly visible
Public access must be guaranteed
Visually road should be blocked along the full width
Marshal can stand between barriers
Spectators can stand behind the barriers

7. WOC 2017 Entering & returning
Daniel Hubmann (1.) & Matthias Kyburz (4.) entered area
But returned the same way

8. WOC 2017 Entering & returning
Comment IOF rules commission
In the WOC Sprint final, one athlete ran into the out-of-bounds street but realised and
returned. Such incidences are quite common in urban environments. Many of us have
run a few metres up a private driveway by mistake before realising and going back and
up the adjacent passageway.
We have considered whether we can write a rule about such instances but decided that
the exact circumstances must be taken into account. In general, if the athlete gained no
advantage and did no damage, then they need not be disqualified. However, if (for
example) an athlete tramples over a beautiful flower bed but then comes back, they
probably should be disqualified.

9. WC Final 2017, Grindelwald Switzerland Case
First leg runner of SWE 1 ran along house on small foot path
Entrance was not taped because it ‘clearly’ looked private
Team disqualified
Accepted no jury case

10. Backup Slides

11. WOC 2017 ‘Trap’ at last control
Artificial olive area
Only tapes no visible difference on ground
Several runners ran to tap and then back
No disqualifications

12. WOC 2017 ‘Trap’ at last control
Real situation the day after the race
Different opinions whether this is extra challenge forcing exact map reading or a ‘trap’