RESOLUTIONS AIM TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 21, 2000) -- Responding to complaints from USA Triathlon (USAT) members about elite international athletes collecting age-group prizes at U.S. triathlons, the USAT Board of Directors has passed two resolutions aimed at ending this practice.
Elite U.S. triathletes hold a special pro/elite membership card, and are therefore restricted from competing in age-group events and winning age-group awards other than prize money. However, foreign pro/elite racers did not carry such cards and were free to race in lower-level, age-group events and win the associated awards.
The resolutions, written by board member Jack Weiss, define an international pro/elite triathlete and then restrict these athletes from competing in age-group events. The will take affect on Nov. 1, 2000.
"These resolutions were necessary to level the paying field," USAT Deputy Director Tim Yount said. "We needed to make sure our age-group athletes get the recognition and awards they deserve."
The first resolution defines an international pro/elite athlete as meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Holding a pro/elite triathlon license from any nation outside of the United States, be it the athlete's country of origin or country of residence.
- Having competed in any ITU World Cup race during the 12 months prior to the event.
- Having competed in any ITU points race during the 12 months prior to the event.
- Having competed in any World Triathlon Corporation Ironman Qualifier as a pro or in the pro category during the previous 12 months.
- Having competed in one's domestic Olympic Trials for triathlon during the current year, commencing Jan. 1.
The second resolution restricts international athletes who meet the criteria from participating in U.S. age-group races or in age-group categories in combined elite and age-group events. |
