This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
Published on November 8, 2019, the IAAF's decision to remove the 3,000m steeplechase and 200m events from the Diamond League's prime time has left many in the athletics community reeling.
The IAAF's statement cited the need to keep global track championship meets entertaining for spectators by trimming down events to fit a 90-minute broadcast window.
However, critics argue that this move will ultimately hurt the sport, particularly for African countries that have dominated these events.
As the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) and Athletics Kenya remain silent on the issue, the IAAF's decision poses a challenge to African countries to create their own events and make them popular.
With sponsors of the Diamond League events in Europe bound to come up with rules that suit their interests, it remains to be seen how this move will impact the future of athletics.
