The USATF has found itself in a storm over a technicality that’s impacting Team USA’s chances on the world stage. Ahead of the 2025 International Association of Ultrarunners 24-Hour World Championship, a little-known rule requiring verbal confirmation of an athlete’s withdrawal has triggered a dispute that could leave the US women’s team one runner short in a global event.

The American athlete and running coach, Zach Bitter, took to X and criticized a rule that turned the gears for the American team at the 2025 24-Hour World Championship. He stated , “Once you think USATF can’t bungle the sport of running anymore, you learn at a World Championships (in this case the 24 hour), if an athlete on the team, decides to not show up, they need verbal confirmation of withdraw in order to replac

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