Position Regarding Sanctioning of WTC (Ironman) Events

Friday, 19th May 2006

A decision was taken by the International Triathlon Union in September 2005 that National Triathlon Federations should not become involved in the registration or sanctioning of World Triathlon Corporation events.

British Triathlon understands that the reason for this decision was that World Triathlon Corporation established a body called the Global Tri Group in June 2005 whose purpose was "to enhance events worldwide by standardizing rules and regulations, providing insurance assistance and designing programs to implement drug-testing worldwide."  At that time WTC events therefore fell under the jurisdiction of the Global Tri Group and not the International Triathlon Union or British Triathlon's rules and regulations.

The British Triathlon Association was therefore unable to register Ironman events at that time as they fell outside our jurisdiction due to the decisions of the World Triathlon Corporation and the International Triathlon Union.

Last week, the International Triathlon Union advised all National Federations that they had reached agreement with the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The British Triathlon Association has been advised by the ITU that we can now register and sanction WTC (Ironman) events. It is British Triathlon's understanding that WTC events will no longer be sanctioned by the GTG and that they will revert to registering and sanctioning events through National Federations. We have advised the Race Director of Ironman UK events that we can now register their races and anticipate an application to be made in accordance with the WTC's revised policy.

The Executive Board confirmed at the 2005 AGM, where the restriction on registering and sanctioning WTC (Ironman) events was raised through a resolution, that the British Triathlon Association would support the participation of its members in WTC (Ironman) races. British Triathlon insurance will therefore cover members competing in such events under the terms of the policy and an athlete's eligibility for selection to national teams remains unchanged.

Source:  British Triathlon

More info:  http://www.britishtriathlon.org/news/article.php?id=8404