For the athletics competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the following qualification systems were in place. Qualification ended on 11 July 2016.
Russian disqualification
Because of the suspension of the Russian Athletics Federation by the IAAF, due to widespread doping violations, Russia currently will not qualify as a team for these Olympics or other international competitions, and unless this suspension is lifted in time, Russia will be unable to send an athletics delegation to these Games. While Russia will continue to seek further appeals, the IAAF confirmed its decision on 18 June 2016 after a report by a five-member task force which reported that Russia had failed to fully address its "deep- culture" of doping. The IAAF did provide for the possibility of accepting individual Russian athletes who have been sufficiently tested outside of the Russian system. One athlete suggested was Yuliya Stepanova for her efforts to expose the scandal.
The IAAF then stated on 24 June, that athletes from Russia seeking "exceptional eligibility for International Competition under Competition Rule 22.1A" will be considered and have the permission to compete, "not for Russia but as a neutral athlete", following guidelines. These athletes have to clearly and convincingly show that they are not co involved in the Russian system (outside the country and subject to other systems). On 1 July 2016, Yuliya Stepanova became the first neutral athlete to be qualified under these rules. Darya Klishina, who lives in the United States, has also been given permission. They will compete as Independent Olympic Athletes. The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirms that verdict and rejects the appeal of 68 Russian athletes, on 21 July 2016. Whistleblower Stepanova was eventually barred from competing by the IOC, and she was called a traitor and received death threats back at home in Russia.
Qualifying standards Different from the previous Olympics, a National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter up to 3 qualified athletes in each individual event if all athletes meet the entry standard during the qualifying period. An NOC may also enter a maximum of 1 qualified relay team per event. NOCs may enter athletes regardless of time (1 athlete per sex) if they have no athletes meeting the entry standard. This makes it possible for every nation to have a minimum of two representatives in the sport.
The qualifying time standards may be obtained in various meets during the given period that have the approval of the IAAF. All approved outdoor meets and indoor meets with the exception of 100 m, 200 m and 110/100 m hurdles races are eligible. The qualifying period for the 10,000 m, marathon, walks, and combined events was from 1 January 2015 to 11 July 2016 and for the remaining events, from 1 May 2015 to 11 July 2016.
For the relays, a maximum of sixteen qualified NOCs shall be entitled to each event. The top eight teams in each event at the 2015 IAAF World Relays (held in Nassau, Bahamas on 2–3 May 2015) guaranteed a spot on their respective NOCs for the Olympics. The remaining half in each event are selected according to IAAF World Ranking List as of 12 July 2016 based on the aggregate of the 2 fastest times achieved by NOCs during the given period.
In addition to the qualifying standards below, marathon runners finishing in the top 20 of the 2015 IAAF World Championships or in the top 10 of any IAAF Gold Label marathon within the qualification period are also treated as having earned the A standard.
The NOCs are still allowed to select athletes using their own rules, on the condition that all of them have made the qualifying time. For example, the United States selects athletes based on the result of the 2016 United States Olympic Trials event, but has a policy of entering every athlete so qualified. Sweden only enters athletes good enough to reach at least the eighth position, based on an assessment by the Swedish NOC.
The IAAF Qualifying Standards are as follows:
Men's eventsWomen's events Event Entry mark Event Entry mark100 m10.16100 m11.32200 m20.50200 m23.20400 m45.40400 m52.20800 m1:46.00800 m2:01.501500 m3:36.201500 m4:07.005000 m13:25.005000 m15:24.0010,000 m28:00.0010,000 m32:15.00110 m hurdles13.47100 m hurdles13.00400 m hurdles49.40400 m hurdles56.203000 m steeplechase8:30.003000 m steeplechase9:45.00Marathon2:19:00Marathon2:45:0020 km walk1:24:0020 km walk1:36:0050 km walk4:06:00Long jump8.15Long jump6.70Triple jump16.85Triple jump14.15High jump2.29High jump1.93Pole vault5.70Pole vault4.50Shot put20.50Shot put17.75Discus throw65.00Discus throw61.00Hammer throw77.00Hammer throw71.00Javelin throw83.00Javelin throw62.00Decathlon8100Heptathlon62004 × 100 m relayTop 8 at IWR +8 from top lists4 × 100 m relayTop 8 at IWR +8 from top lists4 × 400 m relay4 × 400 m relay
Track events
Men's track events
Men's 100 m Does not include indoor achievements
Qualification standardNo. of athletes NOC Nominated athletesEntry standard – 10.163 Adrian GriffithShavez HartJamial Rolle3 Aaron BrownAndre De GrasseAkeem Haynes3 Su BingtianZhang PeimengXie Zhenye3 James DasaoluJames EllingtonChijindu Ujah3 Nickel AshmeadeYohan BlakeUsain Bolt3 Yoshihide KiryūAsuka CambridgeRyota Yamagata3 Kim CollinsAntoine AdamsBrijesh Lawrence3 Henricho BruintjiesAkani SimbineAnaso JobodwanaWill not start3 Richard ThompsonRondell SorrilloKeston Bledman3 Emre Zafer BarnesRamil GuliyevJak Ali Harvey3 Justin GatlinTrayvon BromellMarvin Bracy2 Daniel BaileyCejhae Greene2 Ramon GittensLevi CadoganNot selected in 100 m, only in 200 m.2 Andrew Fisher Kemarley BrownWill not start?2 Jimmy VicautChristophe Lemaitre2 Lucas JakubczykJulian Reus2 Reza GhasemiHassan Taftian2 Hua Wilfried KoffiBen Youssef Meïté2 Solomon BockarieChurandy Martina3 Monzavous EdwardsSeye OgunleweOgho-Oghene Egwero1 Josh Clarke1 Vitor Hugo dos Santos1 Karabo MothibiNot selected by Botswana Olympic Association.1 Kemar Hyman1 Roberto SkyersWill not start, only on 200 m.1 Yancarlos Martinez1 Sean Safo-Antwi1 Darrell Wesh1 Jacques RiparelliNot selected by the Italian Olympic team on 14 July 2016.1 Mosito Lehata1 Emmanuel Matadi1 Aziz Ouhadi1 Barakat Mubarak Al-Harthi1 Femi Ogunode1 Yazaldes NascimentoWill not start. Injured ?1 Jahvid Best1 Abdullah Abkar Mohammed1 Kim Kuk-young1 Bruno Hortelano1 Jurgen Themen1 Serhiy Smelyk1 Gerald Phiri1 Gabriel MvumvureInvitational places1 Mohammed Abu KhoussaUniversality places1 Abdul Wahib Zahiri1 Isaac Silafau1 Hermenegildo Leite1 Mezbahuddin Ahmed1 Mohamed Fakhri Ismail1 Kitson Kapiriel1 Wilfried Bingangoye1 Mohamed Lamine Dansoko1 Holder da Silva1 Rolando Palacios1 Sudirman Hadi1 John Ruuka1 Hassan Saaid1 Luke Bezzina1 Richson Simeon1 Jidou El Moctar1 Rodman Teltull1 Siueni Filimone1 Timothee Yap1 Ishmail Kamara1 Didier Kiki1 Riste Pandev1 Etimoni Timuani Total 88 As of 10 July 2016
Men's 200 m Does not include indoor achievements
Qualification standardNo. of athletes NOC Nominated athletesEntry standard – 20.503 Aldemir da Silva JuniorVitor Hugo dos SantosJorge Vides3 Aaron BrownAndre De GrasseBrendon Rodney3 Adam GemiliDanny TalbotNethaneel Mitchell-Blake3 Eseosa Desalu Davide Manenti Matteo Galvan3 Nickel AshmeadeYohan BlakeUsain Bolt3 Kenji FujimitsuShota IizukaKei Takase3 Anaso JobodwanaWayde van NiekerkAkani Simbine3 Justin GatlinLaShawn MerrittAmeer Webb2 Shavez HartDemetrius Pinder2 Levi CadoganBurkheart Ellis2 Thebe BabolokiIsaac Makwala2 Bernardo BaloyesDiego Palomeque2 Roberto SkyersReynier Mena2 Yancarlos MartínezStanly del Carmen2 Carvin NkanataMike Mokamba 2 José Carlos HerreraCésar Ramírez2 Churandy MartinaSolomon Bockarie2 Tega OdeleEjowvokoghene Oduduru2 Kyle GreauxRondel Sorrillo1 Miguel Francis1 Alex Hartmann1 Jonathan Borlée1 Harold Houston1 Lykourgos-Stefanos Tsakonas1 Dharambir Singh1 Hua Wilfried Koffi1 Christophe Lemaitre1 Adama Jammeh1 Alexio-Platini Menga1 Mosito Lehata1 Alonso Edward1 Karol Zalewski1 Femi Ogunode1 Antoine Adams1 Jeremy Dodson1 Bruno Hortelano1 Ramil Guliyev1 Nery Brenes1 Serhiy SmelykInvitational places1 Theo PiniauUniversality places1 Brandon Jones Total 71 As of 19 July 2016
Men's 400 m
Qualification standardNo. of athletes NOC Nominated athletesEntry standard – 45.403 Isaac MakwalaOnkabetse NkoboloThebe Baboloki3 Matthew Hudson-SmithRabah YousifMartyn Rooney3 Fitzroy DunkleyJavon FrancisRusheen McDonald3 Alphas KishoyianRaymond KibetAlex Sampao3 Machel CedenioLalonde GordonDeon Lendore3 LaShawn MerrittGil RobertsDavid Verburg2 Chris BrownSteven Gardiner2 Jonathan BorléeKevin Borlée2 Yoandys LescayRaidel Acea2 Gustavo CuestaLuguelín Santos2 Kirani JamesBralon Taplin2 Yuzo KanemaruJulian Walsh1 Abubakar Abbas1 Hederson Estefani 1 Diego Palomeque1 Nery Brenes1 Pavel Maslák 1 Winston George1 Muhammad Anas1 Donald Sanford1 Matteo Galvan1 Liemarvin Bonevacia1 Erayokan Orukpe1 Rafał Omelko1 Abdelalelah Haroun1 Brandon Valentine-Parris1 Yousef Ahmed Masrahi1 Luka Janežič1 Wayde van Niekerk1 Vitaliy Butrym1 Alberth BravoInvitational places1 James ChiengjiekUniversality places1 Bachir Mahamat1 Ousseini Djibo1 Mehboob Ali Total 55 As of 26 June 2016
Men's 800 m
Qualification standardNo. of athletes NOC Nominated athletesEntry standard – 1:46.003 Taoufik MakhloufiYassine HathatAmine Belferar3 Peter BolLuke MathewsJeff Riseley3 Alfred KipketerFerguson RotichDavid Rudisha3 Daniel AndújarÁlvaro de ArribaKevin López3 Boris BerianCharles JockClayton Murphy2 Kléberson DavideLutimar Paes2 Brandon McBrideAnthony Romaniw2 Michael RimmerElliot Giles2 Amine El ManaouiMostafa Smaili2 Adam KszczotMarcin Lewandowski2 Andrés ArroyoWesley Vázquez2 Abubaker Haydar AbdallaAbdulrahman Musaeb Balla2 André OlivierReinhardt van Rensburg1 Abraham Rotich1 Amel Tuka1 Nijel Amos1 Antoine Gakeme1 Rafith Rodríguez1 Jakub Holuša1 Andreas Bube1 Ayanleh Souleiman1 Mohammed Aman1 Pierre-Ambroise Bosse1 Alex Amankwah1 Jinson Johnson1 Mark English 1 Giordano Benedetti1 Ali Saad Al-Daran1 Jozef Repčík1 Žan Rudolf1 Andreas AlmgrenInvitational places1 Charles Grethen1 Brice Etès1 Yiech BielUniversality places1 Pol Moya1 Francky-Edgard Mbotto1 Alex Beddoes1 Benjamín Enzema1 Joshua Ilustre1 Musa Hajdari Total 58 As of 11 July 2016
Men's 1500 m
Qualification standardNo. of athletes NOC Nominated athletesEntry standard – 3:36.203 Asbel KipropElijah ManangoiRonald Kwemoi3 Fouad ElkaamAbdalaati IguiderBrahim Kaazouzi3 Nick WillisHamish CarsonJulian Matthews3 Robby AndrewsBen BlankenshipMatthew Centrowitz Jr.2 Taoufik MakhloufiSalim Keddar2 Charles Philibert-ThiboutotNathan Brannen2 Ayanleh SouleimanAbdi Waiss Mouhyadin2 Charlie GriceChris O'Hare2 David BustosAdel Mechaal1 Hayle Ibrahimov1 Benson Seurei1 Pieter-Jan Hannes1 Thiago André1 Jakub Holuša1 Florian Carvalho1 Homiyu Tesfaye1 Henrik Ingebrigtsen1 David Torrence1 Mohamad Al-Garni1 İlham Tanui Özbilen1 Ronald MusagalaInvitational places1 Erick Rodríguez1 Paulo LokoroUniversality places1 Santino Kenyi Total 38 As of 10 June 2016
Men's 5000 m Qualification standardNo. of athletes NOC Nominated athletesEntry standard – 13:25.003 Abrar OsmanAron KifleAwet Nftalem Kibrab3 Muktar EdrisDejen GebremeskelHagos Gebrhiwet(Abadi Hadis)3 Andrew ButchartMo FarahTom Farrell3 Caleb NdikuIsiah KoechCyrus Rutto3 Soufiyan BouqantarAbdalaati IguiderYounes Essalhi3 Antonio AbadíaIlias FifaAdel Mechaal3 Phillip KipyekoRonald MusagalaJoshua Kiprui Cheptegei3 Paul ChelimoBernard LagatHassan Mead2 Aweke AyalewAlbert Kibichii Rop2 Mohammed AhmedLucas Bruchet 2 Richard RingerFlorian Orth2 Kota MurayamaSuguru Osako2 Stephen MokokaElroy Gelant1 Brett Robinson1 Bashir Abdi1 Olivier Irabaruta1 Jamel Chatbi1 Kemoy Campbell1 Sindre Buraas1 David Torrence1 Ali KayaInvitational placesUniversality places1 Kefasi Chitsala1 San Naing1 Hari Rimal1 Romário Leitão1 Rosefelo Siosi1 Mohamed Daud Mohamed Total 48 As of 10 June 2016
Men's 10,000 m