Rules Discussion #5 Rule 3.5 and 3.8

After seeing this one in the process of being broken in a public forum I figured I'd cover it. The scenario was someone was attempting to sell their race number for a very large upcoming race that was no longer offering transfers.

3.5 Unregistered Participants.
a. 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 up to one year.
b. 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 up to one year. Any second violation of this Section shall result in a lifetime suspensionor ban from membership in USA Triathlon.

I will almost guarantee that if the RD finds out that you broke this rule you are going to be punished. You are putting a lot of people in a potentially bad spot that they are not going to tollerate. If you buy a race number and compete as another person that is a fraudlent activity and exposes the organizers to potential legal liabilities. If you are injured you will not have signed the waiver and that will get messy.

So buying the number is a violation of 3.5(a) and selling it is a violation of 3.5(b). If there are transfers available it's done through the RD. If not, and many races have a no transfer/no refund policy, that's life. I would think it to be significantly better to lose $250 dollars (more likely $50-80) on a race than risk suspension. Read this carefully. A second violation of this results in a LIFETIME BAN.

Secondly section 3.8 lists suspendable events.

3.8 Acts Warranting Suspension. In addition to other penalties which may be imposed at the discretion of USA Triathlon, the following acts may be grounds for suspension for a period of time designated by USA Triathlon:
a. A flagrant or willful violation of the Competitive Rules;
b. Gross or continued unsportsmanlike conduct;
c. Physical violence directed toward a race official, participant, volunteer, spectator, or other person;
d. Any fraudulent act, such as falsifying name or age, filing a false affidavit or protest, or providing false information to USA Triathlon, the Board of Hearings and Appeals, or race officials;
e. Intentionally participating in an event despite failure to register;
f. Repetitive or recurring violations of the Competitive Rules;
g. Failure to notify a race official after withdrawing from a race;
h. Violation of the Medical Control Rules as set forth in Article VIII;
i. Refusal to abide by the final determination by USA Triathlon of any matter relating to these Rules or the sport of triathlon; and
j. Any act which disgraces or brings discredit to the sport of triathlon.

It's also listed here at 3.8e. I doubt that this would be enforced for indavertent acts but it would be hard to claim inadvertent acts of this nature. The bigger events make you show a license and a USAT card at packet pickup so you'd have to go get your packet and transfer it to the other person. At most larger events there are photographers. Imagine the shock of some of the people that "you" beat when they check the photos to see how you looked and it's not you. Almost everyone has Google nowdays and not much hides from Google.

In summary don't break this easy to follow rule. Many race directors are flexible and can offer partial refunds, 1 year deferrals, Aquabikes or even transfers. Just ask. If they say no you are free to make whatever decision you want on the race but whatever you do just make sure it's the right thing.