India’s athletes say: “PU good, rubber bad”

According to recent findings, more than 90% of India’s synthetic tracks are considered substandard in terms of materials, installation and marking. The core issue, AFI officials say, lies in the widespread use of tyre-derived rubber in place of properly specified polyurethane track systems. In some cases, installations reportedly consist of a rubber base layer with only a superficial coloured coating, rather than a fully engineered PU structure. 

From a materials perspective, the distinction is critical. Polyurethane track systems are designed to deliver controlled elasticity, energy return and surface durability over a service life typically exceeding a decade. By contrast, improvised rubber-heavy systems lack structural integrity and degrade rapidly under use and environmental exposure. AFI representatives warned that such surfaces can deteriorate within months, compared with the expected multi-year lifespan of a compliant PU track. 

Performance implications are equally significant. Athletes training on rubber-dominant surfaces experience slower times due to poorer energy restitution and inconsistent surface hardness. “You will not get good performance if you have rubber of tyres instead of polyurethane,” an AFI official noted, highlighting the direct link between material selection and athletic output. 

The issue has also exposed gaps in procurement and quality assurance. Historically, the AFI has not been directly involved in certifying track installations, leaving responsibility fragmented across contractors and local authorities. However, following intervention from World Athletics, the federation is now moving to take a more active role in certification, including tighter control over approved vendors and installation practices.