Canoe sprint is governed by a set of rules and regulations designed to ensure fair competition, safety, and sportsmanship. Below are the key rules and regulations that participants must adhere to during races:
Race Distances
Canoe sprint races are conducted over three primary distances:
- 200 metres
- 500 metres
- 1000 metres
Lane Assignments
Lanes are assigned based on performances in the heats. Winners from the heats are awarded the center lanes, which are considered to offer a slight advantage due to less turbulence from other boats.
Team Events
In team events, no members of the crew can be swapped out at any time, regardless of injury, illness, or other mitigating factors. If any team or athlete cannot perform for any reason, they will be disqualified.
Fouls and Disqualifications
Committing any of the following fouls may result in a warning or complete disqualification from the race:
- Arriving late for the race
- Missing a race
- Committing two false starts
- Breaking the 5-metre rule, which requires that boats remain within a 5-meter boundary in their designated lane at all times.
Post-Race Checks
All boats are subject to checks at the end of the race to ensure compliance with pre-agreed rules and regulations. Boats found to have failed to adhere to these rules (such as weighing in light) will be disqualified.
Protests and Appeals
Athletes or teams are permitted to protest a caution or warning, but this must be done immediately after the race (within a maximum of 20 minutes) to the competition committee. The committee will make a prompt decision. If the athlete or team disagrees with this ruling, they may approach the jury within the next 20 minutes. Any ruling made by the jury is final.