Find out if your favourite shoe is on Ironman’s banned list this season

Ironman has released its list of banned super shoes for this year’s race season. There are eight models named across some of the biggest brands in running shoes.

In alignment with the World Athletics’ Shoe Regulation, Ironman now follows the same guidelines in deciding which shoes end up on its list. The list prohibits the use of running shoes with a sole thickness greater than 40mm and more than one carbon plate.

List of banned shoes released

Four shoe brands made the list for this season. The Adidas Adizero Prime X (including the X Strung and X 2 Strung), Asics Superblast (including the Novablast 4 and 5), New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer and Saucony’s Kinvara Pro.

The rule is strictly enforced for pro triathletes. Age group athletes competing in World Triathlon and Ironman races are subject to random checks before, during and after any race. If found to be wearing a banned shoe the athlete would result be disqualified or their results removed.

Verification process for new shoes

The Ironman rulebook states that “any shoe that cannot be identified, each piece of information (and maybe the shoe itself) will be required to be sent to the World Triathlon headquarters for verification within 7 days after the Race it was worn.”

If it is determined that the shoe was illegal the athlete will be disqualified, otherwise the notation will be removed.

World Triathlon didn’t implement the current rules until 2023. Prior to that, controversy erupted over 2022 Ironman World Championship Gustav Iden’s use of a pair of ON prototype shoes, which were later banned. The midsole on Iden’s shoes were thicker than 40mm. But because the rule had not been adopted at that point he was not disqualified as a result.

Ironman World Championships sparked ruling

The controversy lead to discussions at the World Triathlon executive board meeting in Abu Dhabi in November, 2022, following the championship race. It was decided that the organization would implement the World Athletics rules beginning on January 1, 2023. Later that year, Ironman followed suit and continues to upholds the same bans.

Other than midsole thickness and number of carbon plates, the rules also address wearing prototypes or customized shoes that are not already available en mass to the general public. The intent is to avoid an unfair advantage to a single or limited number of athletes in competition.

Since, Ironman’s has adhered to the same list of pre-approved running shoes as set by World Athletics. As an exception to this general rule, a request can be made to the World Triathlon Technical Committee for the approval of a development shoe.

The ban originated from World Athletics prohibited list of banned road race competition shoes leading into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.