Ed note: This is a reminder why athletes should not participate in an event under someone else's bib number if there is no transfer for that event or the transfer period has since closed. What happens if there's an accident? Who is responsible? And it also affects liability insurance.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 12, 2002) -The USA Triathlon Board of Directors has voted to amend the rule regarding the selling of race entries. It is also encouraging race directors to start developing race refund and transfer policies.

The former rule regarding the selling of race entries reads:
"3.5 Unregistered Participants.
Any person who participates in any portion of a sanctioned event without first properly registering and paying any required registration fee shall be suspended or barred from membership in USA Triathlon and barred from participation in any sanctioned event for a period of one year.

Any person who in any way assists another athlete to violate Section 3.5a by providing or selling a race number to that athlete shall be suspended or barred from membership in USA Triathlon and barred from participation in any sanctioned event for a period of one year.

Any second violation of this Section shall result in a lifetime suspension or ban from membership in USA Triathlon."

The Board has changed the wording to say that the suspension for buying or selling a race entry may be for "a period of up to one year."

Those people who sell and buy race entries fraudulently are known as "race bandits."

At its 2002 November meeting, the USA Triathlon Board of Directors also passed a resolution requiring race directors to submit their entry and refund policy when applying for a USA Triathlon sanction, and to publish those policies as part of their registration.

USA Triathlon will publicize those races with refund and transfer policies on its web site and in its magazine. USA Triathlon will also assist race directors in developing a refund and/or transfer policy.

USA Triathlon is the national governing body for the multi-sport disciplines of triathlon and duathlon in the United States.

For more information, check out www.usatriathlon.org. and www.runnertriathletenews.com/news/bandi t_suit2002.html