The 3000m steeplechase and discus will also not feature in the Diamond League Final next year

The 200m, 3000m steeplechase, triple jump and discus for both men and women are the eight events which will be cut from the IAAF Diamond League in 2020.

Earlier this year it was confirmed that 24 disciplines – 12 male and 12 female events – would form the core of all meetings in the series, which will incorporate 14 meets and a final, from next year.

According to research carried out by the Diamond League, the discus, triple jump and 3000m steeplechase sit towards the bottom of the list when it comes to most popular events, with the most popular disciplines being the 100m, long jump and high jump, followed by the the pole vault, 200m and 400m.

The decision to cut the 200m comes as the IAAF says Diamond League organisers felt it “would be too congested alongside the 100m, particularly in an Olympic Games’ year”.

Popularity of athletes, head-to-head competitions and excitement of the individual competition were cited as reasons for the choice of the most popular events in the Diamond League survey.

“Representative online research carried out in China, France, South Africa and the USA; post-event surveys in Belgium, Great Britain and Switzerland and click-throughs on Diamond League social media videos during 2019 helped guide the Diamond League general assembly, made up of all meeting directors, to decide which disciplines will be part of 2020 season,” said the IAAF.

The IAAF adds that following a review of the schedule for the 90-minute broadcast window of the Diamond League, the 200m and the 3000m steeplechase will be included in 10 meetings (five male and five female) in the 2020 Diamond League season, including Oslo, Rome and Doha, while two meetings will feature the discus and triple jump (one female and one male). However, none of those four disciplines will feature in next year’s Diamond League Final, to be held in Zurich.

“Our objective is to create a faster-paced, more exciting global league that will be the showcase for our sport. A league that broadcasters want to show and fans want to watch,” said IAAF president and Diamond League chairman, Sebastian Coe.

“However, we understand the disappointment of those athletes in the disciplines not part of the 2020 Diamond League season.”

The controversial decision means fans will only get limited opportunities at the Diamond League to see clashes such as Christian Taylor versus Will Claye or Yulimar Rojas against Caterine Ibarguen in the triple jump. Or stars such as discus giant Daniel Stahl, 200m man Noah Lyles and steeplechaser Conseslus Kipruto.

This latest news follows the IAAF’s earlier decision to have the 3000m as the longest endurance race on the Diamond League programme.

Coe continued: “We want to thank the 10 Diamond League meetings which have found a way to include the 200m or the 3000m steeplechase (male and female) during the 2020 season and the four meetings hosting a discus throw competition or a triple jump competition.

“The Continental Tour, an enhanced global series of one-day meetings supporting the Diamond League, will integrate these eight disciplines to ensure athletes get opportunities to compete extensively and earn prize money. We will also work more closely with the athletes in these eight disciplines to help promote them and their events.”

Full lists of events in each Diamond League meeting are set to be released shortly.

The IAAF added that all meetings have the opportunity to feature additional disciplines outside of the 90-minute international broadcast window to cater for their domestic fans, which will be carried by domestic broadcasters.

DIAMOND LEAGUE DISCIPLINES FOR 2020 (12 MALE AND 12 FEMALE)

• 100m
• 100m/110m hurdles
• 400m
• 400m hurdles
• 800m
• 1500m
• 3000m
• Long jump
• High Jump
• Pole vault
• Javelin
• Shot put