- When there was a headwind on the home straight of the track, the 100 m and 110 m hurdles, including those in combined events, were run in the opposite direction without proper certification to do so.
- In the 110 mH the distance from the start to the first hurdle, 13.72 m, is 30 cm shorter than from the 10th hurdle to the finish, 14.02 m. When KBU conducted the 110 mH in reverse it placed all hurdles 30 cm closer to the finish to account for that but measured the distance from the marks for the regular direction with a tape measure and marked it with tape.
- When races were run in the reverse direction no electronic timing system was used. Instead, a high-speed video camera was used to shoot video, from which times were calculated using the number of frames from the first one showing smoke from the starting gun to the first in which an athlete crossed the finish line.
Results from all races in which any of the above 3 methodologies were used cannot be officially certified.
In addition, these practices began under the direction of the head coach at the time and were carried out by the head coach and assistant coaches with full knowledge that the results could legitimately be officially certified. Furthermore, it was discovered that since 2019 the methodologies above were only used at time trials meets where athletes were exclusively from KBU, and that when athletes from other schools were present the methods were not used. From this the IUAU determined that KBU team staff knew perfectly well that what they were doing was not legitimate.
As a consequence, the IUAU has taken steps to annul all results from races at KBU in which these practices were confirmed to have been used. Some athletes were found to have used their results from affected races in order to qualify for IUAU-sponsored events like the National University Track and Field Championships, and as a result their results in those competitions will also be annulled.
Other penalties were also announced:
- The results of KBU athletes in the 100 m, 110 mH and men's combined events from meets hosted by KBU up to Aug. 29, 2024 will not be accepted as qualifying marks for future IUAU competitions.
- KBU is banned from hosting meets for a period of two years beginning Aug. 29, 2024.
- The former head coach who instituted the practices is banned from participating in or even attending any IUAU competitions for a period of two years, and has been dismissed from his seat on the IUAU executive committee.
- The general manager and hurdles coach are also banned from participating in or attending any IUAU competitions for a period of two years, and the current head coach for a period of one year.
Given this incident, the IUAU has called for greater awareness and abiding of regulations on the proper implementation of competitions. Points of emphasis:
- Correct measurement in accordance with rules and regulations is a basic prerequisite.
- Standardized measurement at properly certified facilities is what makes comparison of performances at different places and times possible and meaningful.
- The principles are not limited to the actions in the KBU case but apply equally to windspeed measurements, judgment of fouls and false starts, etc., and all regulations and procedures regarding these must be employed correctly.
- Violation of these basic principles destroys the integrity of track and field as a sport and damages its public appeal.
- All universities nationwide that host track and field meets and their students who serve as meet staff and officials must remember these basic principles of the sport and be diligent in paying attention that their actions are accurate and by the book.
Following the judgment, the KBU track and field team issued a statement on its website saying:
Thank you for your support of the Kokusai Budo University track and field team. Due to a variety of circumstances, all events scheduled for the Oct. 19, 2024 edition of the Kokusai Budo University Time Trials meet and for future editions have been canceled. We apologize to everyone who had planned to take part for any inconvenience this may cause them, and we ask for your understanding.
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translated and edited by Brett Larner
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