Section 7: Violations & Penalties
- Yellow card (first infraction): the Chief Referee or an appointed Referee raises a yellow flag and displays the Athlete's number as an official warning; the infraction is recorded and all Technical Officials are notified (Articles 4.2.2.3–4.2.2.4 of Part Three).
- Red card (second infraction): a second rule breach in the same race draws a red flag and results in disqualification, enforced immediately or at the end of the race at the Chief Referee's discretion (Articles 4.2.2.5, 2.5.7 of Part Three).
- Unsporting Conduct: defined as any intentional violent physical action; intentional pushing, pulling, or holding of another Athlete; intentionally pushing another Athlete against the finish-funnel buoys or markers; or any action impeding another Athlete from touching the finish plate — any of which results in immediate disqualification without requiring a prior yellow card (Articles 4.2.2.6, 4.2.4–4.2.4.4 of Part Three).
- Missing the pre-race briefing without valid reason may draw disqualification or another penalty at the Chief Referee's discretion; arriving late without valid reason draws a yellow card (Articles 3.2.2, 3.2.2.1–3.2.2.2 of Part Three).
- Swimwear and identification infractions (Appendix 7 of Part Three): wearing unapproved swimwear, wearing more than one swimsuit, not wearing a wetsuit when required, or starting without an approved cap each result in immediate disqualification; wearing jewellery or a watch is a Chief Referee decision between a yellow and red card.
- Unauthorised aids: using or wearing any device or swimsuit that aids speed, buoyancy, or endurance, or using an undeclared or unapproved wearable, results in immediate disqualification (Articles 10.6, 10.8.2–10.8.3, Appendix 7 items 10–11 of Part Three).
- Course violations: exceeding the outer course limits or failing to stay within the course boundaries results in disqualification (Articles 4.1.2, 4.1.2.1, Appendix 7 item 14 of Part Three).
- Every Technical Official who observes an infraction must record it, notify the Chief Referee, and submit a signed Infraction Form after the race; Appendix 7 of Part Three provides a non-exhaustive quick-reference table of common infractions and their card classification (Articles 2.4, 4.2.3 of Part Three).