BERLIN -- The world governing body of track and field is expected to simplify its false-start rule this week to penalize any runner who jumps the gun.
Currently, only the second false start results in a disqualification for the guilty runner, regardless of who caused the first one.
"You had people cheating and playing tricks," IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said.
Some athletes deliberately committed a false start, knowing they wouldn't be punished if it was the first one. These also often delayed the often-crowded programs of big meetings and created awkward dead time during live TV.
As a result, the IAAF Council pushed for a new, clearer system. The new proposals will likely be approved by the IAAF's rule-making Congress on Wednesday.
The new rule would not apply to the World Championships which start in Berlin on Saturday and would only take effect from next year. The rule allowing one false start per race has been in force since 2003.
The Congress will also have to approve the proposal to limit the annual cross country world championships to every two years.
Cross country has lost popularity to road racing top distance racers often disregard the traditional event.
"It is quite a historic change," Davies said. "Everything else in athletics is every two years."