SPRINT- Racing rules

At the GA in Marianska, Check Rep. June 2011 the following things were added "silence in the night" - see IV ATTITUDE A) - e) and "giving back the starting number" - 2. MUSHER - h.
This also changes the date of validity from 24th Oct. 2010 to 10.08.2011

I.INSCRIPTION RULES
A) Acceptance Conditions
1. ENTRY
To participate in a FISTC European/World Championship each member country will send a complete entry form for all competitors to the FISTC secretary, the treasurer, and to the organizer of the race respecting the time limit stipulated by the organizer. This list must mention name of Musher, class in which to participate.
2. PAYMENT
The total amount of money has to be paid to the FISTC treasurer on the announced closing date the latest
PRE CHECKING
The day before the race, at the latest at 4 pm, unless the organizer is informed of a major problem, all teams must be available for pre race checking.
STARTING LISTS.
At 12 o'clock - Thursday noon, the starting list will be final. A team can change category after this time only in agreement with the FISTC vet. if a dog or dogs are ill.
2. MUSHER
a) Any Musher fulfilling and accepting the FISTC rules and demands can participate in the championships - only by contacting their country's FISTC member club and ask to join its team. Only alternative is to obtain a wild card through the FISTC board if the conditions correspond the definition for giving a wild card.
b) The Mushers nationality mentioned in his passport is valid, with only one exception: A Musher living and working in another country is authorized to participate for that country, if he has the authorization by own country to do so, written in his FISTC passport.
c) The Musher who starts in the first heat of a race has to compete during the other two heats with the same team.
d) If a Musher is disqualified during/after a heat, he is not authorized to compete for the rest of the race.
e) Only the FISTC Board is authorized to invite Mushers from other countries not being a member of the FISTC by giving them a wild card. The following year this country has to be a member of the FISTC. Otherwise the Musher in question cannot participate in further FISTC championships.
f) Minimum age for participation:
Category D = 12 Years
Category C/pulka/skijoring 1 dog = 14 Years
Category B = 16 Years
Category A/O = 18 Years
SKIJORING 2 dogs = 18 Years
g) Anti sporting behaviour is very bad for the sport, and all Mushers must have a correct behaviour towards dogs and all participants.
h) Any musher who, on a FISTC Championship will give back his starting number to the race marshal, the organizer or any of their assistants will immediately be considered as being definitely out of the race. In no way at any moment he will be allowed to get his starting number back and continue the race.
3. DOGS
a) The race marshal is authorized to refuse the entry of any team or dog(s) for serious reasons.
b) The race marshal and the vet. have the possibility to evaluate any team or dog(s) coming to the starting line and disqualify him/it, if it is suspected to be inapt or inefficient to finish the trail safely.
c) Teams or dogs not completing the first heat will not be authorized to start in the following heats.
d) Only dogs registered in one of the four polar sled dog breeds - Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, and Greenland dog with a FCI pedigree and in conformity with the respective FCI standard can start in a FISTC championship. This means in type, weight and size (with a tolerance of + 1 cm in relation to the maximum size allowed in the Standard - if any).
This has to be verified by the actual FISTC dog passport, in the Euro passport, or in the special form for dogs not able to go to a show, as described in the manual shown on the FISTC website.
In case of at least two dogs with dog pass ports are not in standard, the person, who has verified this, is not allowed to sign dog passes anymore.
In a case where at least four dogs with dog pass ports are not in standard, the FISTC member club will be suspended for one year.
e) The age of the dogs has to be 15 months on the first day of the race.
f) No dog can be disqualified for non-conformity with the standard later than 2 hours after the finish of the first heat.
g) It is not allowed to have more than two dogs in a box.
h) If warnings from Animal Welfare for boxes are not followed up by the Musher at the following EC/WC, he will be disqualified before the first heat.
4. DISTEMPER
a) All dogs and/or Equipment coming from an infected kennel by Virus like Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, or any infectious disease are not allowed at the racing site.
b) If the Race Marshall or the Vet. detects that one of the present dogs at the racing site is infected by an infectious disease, the whole team will be disqualified and ordered to leave the site immediately.
c) Any dog at the racing site (also not dogs in teams) has to be vaccinated against RABIES, CANINE DISTEMPER, HEPATITIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS, and PARVOVIRUS to the demands of own country, the organizers country and those of the FISTC.
d) If a dog during a race is in trouble the Musher may leave it -
1. at a check point. In such a case the dog will be transported back to the finish line - or
2. he has to bring back the dog in the sled bag to the finish line - or
3. if there is not anymore room for the dog in the sled bag he has carefully to continue to a check point drop point.
4. Such a check point must be equipped with a radio, and be reachable by Skidoo by the vet. within 10 minutes for examining the dog(s)
5. Sufficient material to hold back dogs must be available at that point too.
e) It is forbidden to transport an injured dog in any other way than in the sled bag.
f) The Race vet. is allowed to take a dog out of the race if he/she thinks that the dog is too tired/injured after a heat, and the Musher must respect this decision at all times.
If a dog dies, the Musher has 1 hour to retract himself from the race. After this time he will be taken out of the race. On every such dog a necropsy will be performed, and if this clears the Musher of the blame, there will be no consequences for the Musher. If the Musher has part in the death of the dog, he will be disqualified for the next EC/WC of all distances. The punishment can be extended if appropriate.
The result of the necropsy and the possible punishment of the Musher will be made public.
5. IDENTIFICATION
a) All dogs participating in a FISTC championship must be provided with electronic chips
6. TEAMSIZE
a)
Open class "O" - minimum 9 dogs in heat 1, and minimum 6 dogs in the other heats.
8 Dog class "A" - maximum 8 dogs in heat 1, and minimum 5 dogs in the other heats.
6 Dog class "B" - maximum 6 dogs in heat 1, and minimum 4 dogs in the other heats.
4 Dog class "C" - maximum 4 dogs in heat 1, and minimum 3 dogs in the other heats.
2 Dog class "D" - 2 dogs during the complete race
PULKA - 3 dogs maximum in the first heat
Skijoring I: 1 dog in all heats
Skijoring II: 2 dogs in all heats
b) For the race all classes will be divided into 2 groups as follows:
1. Teams with one or more Siberian Huskies - and 2. Teams with only Alaskan Malamutes, Greenland dogs or Samoyeds
- in the pulka and skijoring category all breeds and all people will be in the same class, and this will be split into 2 groups - women and men, only if there are minimum 3 competitors in the same class.
7.STARTING ORDER
The starting order in the categories should be as follows:
Skijoring II
Skijoring I
Pulka men
Pulka women
"O" class
A1 class
A2 class
B1 class
B2 class
C1 class
C2 class
D1 class
D2 class
8. TRAIL DISTANCES
"O"class: 20 - 25 Km
A class: 18 - 20 Km
B class: pulka, and skijoring: 15 - 18 Km
D and C class: 10 - 12 KmB) DRUGS
1.PROHIBITED DRUGS
All Drugs on the WADA list are prohibited.
2. Checking for drugs
a) Every dog is liable to be checked. One or more dogs from the same team might be controlled.
b) At the pre-racing check the Musher has to present a written list showing all drugs the dog has been treated with in the last week before the start of the race.
c) If a Musher does not agree with the controlling, it will be considered as if the test would have turned out to be positive.
d) If a team dog shows a positive result with a prohibited drug, the Musher will be disqualified and excluded for at least 2 whole seasons.
e) Mushers who are banned from ANY race having broken the rules for doping have to be banned from ANY race organized by clubs associated with the FISTC and from all FISTC events and activities for two whole seasons.
In case a Musher younger than 18 years is punished for doping, then his responsible parents are also banned from any FISTC race or event for the same period, two whole seasons.
f) All the tests (musher and dogs) may be taken during the whole race.
C) EQUIPMENT
1. Inspection
a) Musher, team and equipment have to be available for checking in the starting area at least four minutes before their starting time.
b) A harnessed team will not be obliged to stay for checking more than two minutes before the starting time
c) Checking has to be made in a place, where it will not disturb starting or arriving teams.
d) Each team is subject to approval by the race marshal after each heat.
e) All equipment is subject to approval by the race marshal.
f) All Mushers have to ensure that their own equipment is being checked.
g) All Mushers are responsible for the standard and quality of own equipment.
2. Type of harnessing
a) All dogs have to be in single line hitch or in pair gang hitch.
b) All dogs have to be connected to the central (Tow) Line with an individual back (tug) Line. When having two leaders, they must be linked together with a neck-line.
c) For PULKA - if having more than one dog in the team they have to be attached in single line.
3. Sled and pulkas
The Sled:
a) A sled has to be built to carry the Musher, and to have a sufficiently large basket to be able to carry at least one dog.
b) The sled must be equipped with an appropriate brake, a brush bow, a convenient snow anchor (hook), and for classes A + O TWO snow hooks are mandatory, a brake mat, and a security line.
Snow anchors (hooks) must be hand able with one hand(not to be in the sled bag - because it then takes too much time to grab it in an emergency situation)
c) A transportation (sled) bag must be firmly attached to the basket and apt to contain a dog trying to escape. This bag must have an outlet of a size that the dog can easily breathe during the transportation.
The Pulka:
a) The pulka has to be connected to the dogs harness by two solid shafts in a way that the dog(s) will not be endangered or run over.
b) The pulka has to be built to avoid the possibility that the runners endanger musher or dog(s).
c) The pulka must be equipped with a security line connected to the Musher during the heats.
d) If the pulka is equipped with a brake it needs no shafts.
e) A brake is mandatory if the team has three dogs.
4. OTHER EQUIPMENT
Young Musher of 12 - 17 years must wear helmets, except for skiers in categories skijoring and pulka.
a) Muzzles, choke-collars and whips are strictly forbidden.
b) A Number west will be provided to each competitor by the organizers to be worn visibly during all heats.
c) The Mushers starting number must be visible in the windscreen of his car/camper as well as on his trailer, to make pre checking easier.
D THE TIME LIMIT DISQUALIFICATION
a) First heat time: starting time due to starting list, and if the time is more than 140% compared to the average time of the first three teams the teams are disqualified and cannot start in heat two.
b) Second heat time: If the time in this heat exceeds 140% compared to the average time of the first three teams in the first two heats the teams are disqualified and cannot start in heat three.
c) The race jury has the authority to change this if convenient.

II.STARTING/FINISHING RULES
A) STARTING LIST
a) The starting list for the first heat will be established the day before the race.
b) The start takes place in ascending order.
c) The second day the starting order is determined by the time of the first heat.
d) The third day the starting order is determined by the sum of the times of the first two heats.
B) EX AEQUO time:
If the total time of two or more teams is the same, the starting order will be the opposite order than that of the previous heat.
C) STARTING AREA - STARTING LINE -STARTING TIME
a) The MUSHER is the reference point for the start.
b) Each team will start at the time stated in the starting List, and the Musher himself is responsible to do so.
c) A team arriving too late for its scheduled start is allowed to go to the starting line, if it is not later than half the time separating the next team. If later - this 'team has to start after the last team in that class.
d) If more than one team is declared "too late" these teams will start in the rank of their previous order.
e) A team having not left the first 30 meters from the starting line before the next team is scheduled to start will be disqualified. Help may be given in this area (The starting chute).
d) If a team leaves the starting line too early, a penalty will be determined by the race jury.
D) HELP AT THE STARTING LINE
a) Number and type of helpers will be defined and announced by the race marshal before the first start.
E) FINISH
a) The time for each team stops when the Musher passes the FINISH LINE.
b) If a team passes the FINISH LINE without its Musher, the time will stop when he passes himself.

III.ON THE TRAIL
A) RACING THE TEAM
a) Each team and its Musher has to run the total trail fixed and marked by the organizer.
b) If a team leaves the trail, the Musher has to take it back to the point where he left it.
c) Any competitor, who might use another kind of transportation than his sled on the trail, will be disqualified.
d) Competitors are not allowed to disturb another team.
e) All the dogs that start a heat must finish it - either arriving in lines in the team or in the basket (dog bag) --- For PULKA - if a dog is not able to finish the trail, the Musher must bring the dog to the next check/drop point.
f) Transporting passengers during the race is not allowed, except for transporting a competitor in an emergency situation.
B) MARKING OF THE TRAIL
a) Right bend (turn right) - a red panel at the right side of the trail.
b) Left bend (turn left) - a red panel at the left side of the trail.
c) To go forward - blue panels along the trail
d) Dangerous Places - this will be marked with a yellow panel in the side of the trail.
e) End of starting area (starting chute) - 30 meters will be shown by panels on both sides of the trail.
f) A panel showing distance 800 Meters indicates finishing chute where ones demand to pass a team is no longer valid.
g) On the tail panels it will be shown which way to go for each class
h) Marking of the trails must always be done as mentioned above!
C) HELP ON THE TRAIL
a) Any team may receive help from race controllers placed on strategic places on the trail, but help is restricted to holding the sled.
b) Competitors racing in the same heat are authorized to helping each other. The conditions will be mentioned by the Race Marshal before the first heat of the race.
c) If a musher has lost his team, it may be stopped and held back until the Musher or a race controller will arrive and take over.
d) It is absolutely forbidden to run in front of a team in order to help or to encourage it. In pulka/skijoring it is however allowed to go in front of the team on down hills for safety reasons.
e) for pulka: it is forbidden to help the team in pushing or pulling the pulka.
f) It is forbidden to call the dogs by name when arriving at the finishing area.
D) TEAM OR DOGS FREE ON THE TRAIL
a) Teams or dogs lost or free on trail must not disturb or take time from other teams.
b) In case a team or dog is lost the Musher has to catch it by himself and by his own means. If getting help besides holding the sled he will be disqualified.
c) Lost teams/dogs have to be caught by the Musher as soon as possible, and before continuing the race, and have to be taken to the finish. The dog(s) in lines or in the sled bag - if not left at a check/drop point.
d) Lost teams/dogs can rejoin the trail without penalty only if the team completes the whole trail and will respect point 3c).
E) PASSING TEAMS
a) When a Musher wants to pass another team, the faster Musher will ask for priority to the slower, when his lead dog(s) reach abt. 15 meters of distance to the slower.
b) Passed teams have to give way to the faster team and slow down
or even stop if asked for by the passing Musher.
c) When a Musher has been passed, he is not allowed to try to re pass within 2 minutes - regardless which class.
d) A competitor catching two teams or more, stopped together along the trail, may pass all those teams. All the other Mushers must do their utmost to let this team pass and avoid any trouble.
e) Teams in queue have to maintain at least the length of a team between them, except when passing in the finish chute ("No priority area").

IV.ATTITUDE
A) RESPONSIBILITY AND FAIR PLAY
a) Each Musher is responsible for himself, his dog(s), and his handler(s)
in the racing Area.
b) Common sense and normal sportive ethics and behaviour must preside. If the race marshal determines that the attitude of a Musher, handler or team will cause bad image to the sport or the race, this team may be disqualified.
c) During a FISTC race it is forbidden to trade dogs younger than one year. If this happens, the dog owner will have to pay to the FISTC a fine of 500 Euro per dog.
d) To prevent damage and/or injuries the pickets on stake outs must be marked 30 Cm. above the snow!!
Any musher who, on a FISTC Championship will give back his starting number to the race marshal, the organiszer or any of their assistants will immediately be considered as being definitely out of the race. In no way at any moment he willbe allowed to get his starting number back and continue the race..
B) MALTREATMENT OF DOGS
a) To beat dog(s) with or without any tool is forbidden, except when it is necessary to stop fighting dogs.

V.TRANSGRESSION OF THE RULES
A) RACE CONTROLLERS REPORTS
a) The race controllers will immediately - or after the heat -
indicate/inform the Race Marshall of any problem or transgression of the rules.
b) The race marshal can react towards any transgression indicated by the race controllers.
B) COMPETITORS REPORTS/COMPLAINTS
a) Mushers who want to mention, that a rule was transgressed by another Musher has to inform of the incident directly after the heat. Notification can be done orally, but any oral report must be followed by a written one handed over to the race marshal less than one hour after the end of the heat. The written report must be followed by a security of Euro 100,-This amount will be returned if the protest is justified and correct. Otherwise this amount will be transmitted to the FISTC treasurer.
b) Any Musher or controller involved in a transgression report is allowed to protest and asked to be listened to by the race marshal.
c) Any protest will be discussed with the race marshal and the race jury before the daily delegates meeting.
During this meeting the decision will be notified by this committee and handed over to the Mushers delegate to forward it to the Musher in question.
C) DISCIPLINARY ACTION
a) Any determination in relation to a transgression of the FISTC rules will be taken by the race marshal as:
1: oral warning or
2: time penalty or
3: disqualification.
There will be no other actions taken or foreseen. The sanctions or decisions will be announced as soon as possible, but must be officially informed at least two hours before the following start
b) Any disciplinary action taken after the final heat will be announced at least one hour before the official price-giving ceremony.
c) If for any reason, time to progress the drug controlling is insufficient, the above time limit will be obsolete. The necessary time will be let to the laboratory. In this case the Musher involved will benefit of the same time delay as the time needed at the laboratory.
d) A Musher will have no claim to whatever the race marshal decides.

Signed by the President Mr. Franco Mannato, 10.08.2011