Noah Lyles will be headlining the track and field events at the World Championship games for the U.S. in August. Preparations have already begun with the athlete displaying his peak form at the recent Diamond League meet, where he won the 100m dash. He is also tied with legendary sprinter Usain Bolt’s record of 34 200 m races completed in less than 20 seconds. With Bolt retired from competitive sports, Lyles is one of the best sprinters that the USATF can bet on.

However, instead of praise and support from the federation, Lyles has faced restrictions and disappointment. The USATF does not allow their athletes to bring any media representatives of their own to cover their performances. This decision has frustrated many athletes, especially Lyles, who considers this an unfair encroachment on his freedom of expression.

Noah Lyles Protests The USATF’s Media Restrictions

The Olympic bronze medalist tweeted to voice his displeasure with the USATF’s media restrictions. He stated that it hinders his ability to share his journey and also connect with his fans. Lyles was especially vexed because he did not receive any photos from the most recent track event. The event in question is the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix which took place in May. He remarked that the USATF has to come up with an effective solution to this problem so that athletes can have pictures to share on social media.

Lyles has vehemently criticized the USATF on Twitter. He said that he has had to hire photographers to get pictures of himself, despite the federation recording the whole event. This, he says, is a waste of his hard-earned money. In another tweet, the sprinter mentioned that he has had to fight with officials after every event just to get content for his YouTube account. He thanked his agent for aiding him in navigating these challenges. Teahna Daniels, another Olympic silver medalist, has come out in support of Noah Lyles.

Athletes Rally Against USATF’s Media Restrictions

Teahna Daniels wrote, “It’s like they want to cut all exposure to the athlete’s and how we create our own narratives of ourselves in this sport.” Several other athletes have spoken against this policy. They voiced their protest on Twitter with the hashtags #Rule40 and #WeDemandChange.

Read More: Fans React to US Track Champion Noah Lyles’ Victory Over His Compatriot Fred Kerley at the Doha Diamond League

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These policies also limit athletes from seeking brand endorsement deals. As a direct result, it hampers the athletes’ ability to pay for their expensive training. Hopefully, the USATF will take note and reconsider its stance.

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