World Athletics has launched an international call to find a specialized provider to oversee the regulation and control of sports footwear used in elite athletics. Through an official Request for Proposals (RFP), the governing body invites companies with technical capabilities and experience in sports evaluation to apply for a process that has been key since footwear regulations were implemented in 2020.

The goal is to appoint an external entity to act as an independent expert, responsible for both the pre-approval of footwear to be used in official competitions and the post-event supervision. Proposals must be submitted by Friday, June 27, 2025, at 12:00 CEST via email to the official address provided by World Athletics.

A key task to ensure fairness and transparency in athletics

The scope of the service required by World Athletics includes, first, the review and processing of approval requests submitted by manufacturers through a dedicated digital platform developed specifically for this purpose. This evaluation must comply with current regulations for competitive sports footwear, ensuring that the models used fall within the permitted technical parameters.

Second, the selected entity must investigate potential violations, physically inspect the footwear when necessary, and verify the models involved in world records as part of the ratification process. Additionally, it will be responsible for implementing a post-competition control process, overseen by World Athletics, to confirm that the shoes used in each event match the list of approved models. The full document for this call is now available in the World Athletics Library.