Overview
- AFI officials said Saturday that more than 90% of synthetic athletics tracks in India are substandard and that the federation will now certify every newly laid surface.
- World Athletics raised the issue during talks in Tokyo last year and asked AFI to step in, which the federation acknowledged it had never done before.
- Officials described tracks built with tyre rubber or poor granules instead of polyurethane, thin layers, faulty markings, and bad laying methods that slow athletes and wear out in a few years.
- AFI has trained Indian officials with visiting experts and plans stricter vendor checks and tougher on-site testing to ensure proper materials and correct installation.
- India has nine World Athletics Class 1 tracks and 113 Class 2 tracks, and AFI also paused its new sponsorship approval rule for three months and will fund one-time SRY gene tests for female-category athletes.