NANJING, CHINA - The World Athletics Council convened in Nanjing, China, on March 24-25 for its 237th meeting, making significant decisions regarding the hosting of future World Athletics Series events, updating eligibility regulations for the female category, and reinforcing its commitment to good governance and gender leadership within the sport.
Botswana and The Bahamas Secure Future World Athletics Relays
In a move highlighting the growing global appeal of athletics, the Council awarded the hosting rights for the next two editions of the World Athletics Relays. Gaborone, Botswana, will stage the 2026 event on May 2-3, marking the first time the African nation will host a World Athletics Series competition. This decision underscores Botswana's increasing prominence in the sport, having successfully hosted a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in 2023, with another Gold-level event, the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, scheduled for April 12 this year.
"I am delighted that Botswana’s commitment to athletics, both through their elite athletes and their event hosting capabilities, has led them to hosting the World Athletics Relays next year," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. He further emphasized the increasing experience and expertise in hosting major athletics events across Africa.
Jacob Kelebeng, Botswana's Minister of Sport and Arts, expressed immense pride, stating, "The World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 will ignite a national passion, drawing the world to our shores and showcasing our unique spirit."
The World Athletics Relays will then return to Nassau, The Bahamas, for the fifth time in 2028, scheduled for April 22-23. Nassau previously hosted the event in 2014, 2015, 2017, and most recently in 2024, demonstrating the nation's strong track record and enthusiasm for the relays.
Mario Bowleg, The Bahamas' Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, conveyed his government's delight in welcoming the world back, recalling "fond memories of great competition, fun and excitement."
Brasília to Host 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships
Brazil has been selected to host the 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília on April 12. This will be the fourth time Brazil has hosted a World Athletics Series event, following previous competitions in Rio de Janeiro and Manaus. Brasília's selection highlights the country's continued engagement with international athletics, especially a decade after Rio de Janeiro hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.
Renato Junqueira, Secretary of Sports and Recreation of the Federal District, affirmed Brasília's readiness, emphasizing the city's sports infrastructure, efficient logistics, security, and iconic setting. He also noted the warm welcome from the Brazilian public and the sporting tradition of the Federal District.
World Athletics Updates Female Category Eligibility Regulations
In a significant decision aimed at preserving fairness in women's competition, the Council approved new eligibility regulations for the female category. This decision follows a consultation process where a majority of stakeholders agreed on the importance of allowing only biological female athletes to compete in the female category to maintain a level playing field.
The approved recommendations from the Working Group on Gender Diverse Athletes include:
Formally affirming the design and goals of the female category.
Revising eligibility regulations to align with these goals.
Merging the DSD (Differences in Sexual Development) and Transgender Regulations. Measures will be considered to address the reliance interests of DSD athletes currently in the pipeline if the new regulations restrict their opportunities.
Adopting a pre-clearance requirement for all athletes competing in the female category, which will involve an SRY (a genetic surrogate for a Y chromosome) test.
Considering future initiatives to support elite gender diverse XY athletes.
World Athletics emphasized its commitment to respecting gender identity, preserving the dignity and privacy of individuals, strictly observing confidentiality, and never imposing any obligation to undergo surgery. The new regulations will be drafted in the coming weeks, with details on the pre-clearance test provider, process, and timeline to be finalized.
Sanctions Against Belarus and Russia Remain
The Council's working group on Belarus and Russian participation recommended that the current sanctions against athletes and officials from these countries remain in place. The Council agreed that these sanctions are adequate unless the current circumstances significantly worsen or a peace agreement is reached. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) will continue to include Russian and Belarusian athletes in its International Testing Pool (ITP) in anticipation of a potential return to competition in the future.
Focus on Coaching Development and Governance
Recognizing the crucial role of coaches, the Council agreed to explore the creation of a dedicated coaching body to enhance coach representation, drive coaching-specific projects, and align coaching priorities with the broader organizational decisions. A detailed proposal for this new body will be developed for future Council consideration.
World Athletics also approved its Gender Leadership Strategy 2025-2027, building on the progress made in gender leadership within the sport. The strategy focuses on increasing the pipeline of female leaders, enhancing gender equity among administrators, referees, and coaches, and strengthening governance frameworks to embed gender equity across all levels of athletics.
Furthermore, the Council finalized and approved Guidelines on Member Federations & Area Associations alignment to better governance principles, aiming to foster a stronger culture of good governance within athletics worldwide.
Other Competition Updates
The timetable for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26, scheduled for January 10, 2026, was approved. The event will commence with the mixed relay and conclude with the men’s 10km race.
Regarding relays, the running order for the 4x100m mixed relay at the upcoming World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 was set as woman, woman, man, man. This order will be reviewed after the event. World records for the 4x100m mixed relay will be recognized starting January 1, 2026. The mixed 4x100m will also be part of the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest in 2026.
Following the decision to make the half marathon and marathon the official senior road distances for race walking events, it was confirmed that these changes will be implemented from October 1, 2025. Updates to the World Athletics Race Walking Tour calendar will align the qualifying period for standings and awards with the calendar year (January 1 to December 31).
Finally, the 300m hurdles will become an official event within the Competition Rules & Technical Rules, allowing it to contribute to World Athletics statistical purposes and world rankings. World best performances will be recorded, with conditions for setting an inaugural world record to be determined later as the event's popularity grows.
"Over the last two days this hard-working Council has made a number of impactful decisions for our sport – further cementing our leadership position in the global sports arena," concluded President Coe. "I am very proud of the important, and at times difficult, work World Athletics is doing. We never shy away from doing the right thing for our sport and our athletes."
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