League Notes: IAAF To Use Qualifying Standards For World Championships

The IAAF will continue to use qualifying standards, not a new world rankings system, for the 2019 Doha World Championships. The IAAF said that feedback from athletes and members of the athletics community "led to the decision to delay implementation of the ranking system." IAAF President Sebastian Coe said, "We believe strongly that the world rankings is the best way for athletes to qualify for our major championships in future" (REUTERS, 11/11).

The IOC reportedly urged int'l federations not to stage events in Spain "unless the country can guarantee equal participation to all competitors including athletes from Kosovo." The warning comes "in the wake of controversy" after the Spanish government prohibited Kosovan participants from competing under their flag at the 2018 Karate World Championships in Madrid (RT, 11/12).