Weird rules athletes must follow at the Olympics, from gymnasts forbidden to wear nail polish to clean shaven boxers

AS with any sport, the Olympics requires its athletes to follow a set of rules.

Understandably, some of these can make perfect sense.

However, there are a few incredibly bizarre ones that you wouldn’t believe the stars of Paris 2024 have to follow.

Like, why do wrestlers need to carry around handkerchiefs when they wrestle? Sidenote, it has nothing to do with the high pollen count this summer.

And why must cyclists’ socks only go to mid-calf? Let SunSport, with the help of the experts at Gambling Zone, fill you in.

Boxers Must Be Clean Shaven

Competitors in the boxing competition must be clean-shaven or have very limited facial hair.

Boxers must be clean shaven to ensure cuts and injuries are easily visible for prompt medical attention and to reduce the risk of abrasions.

Amusingly, a pencil moustache is allowed. How spiffy.

Gymnasts Can’t Wear Nail Polish

While gymnasts are allowed to wear colourful makeup, bright nail polish is not permitted.

For these athletes, it’s either neutral shades or no nail polish at all – like Simone Biles below.

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This is to ensure judges can clearly see their natural nail colour, which can indicate the gymnast’s health and circulation.

BMX Riders Must Tuck In Their Shirts

BMX athletes are required to tuck in their shirts, even if they match their trousers.

This is to prevent their clothing from getting caught in the bike’s moving parts, and prevents accidents.

The rule deems them not as cool as the skateboard lot, even if BMX riding is trendy.

Basketball Players Can’t Hang Onto The Hoop

LeBron James, have a word.

While dunking is permitted in Olympic basketball, players are not allowed to hang onto the hoop afterward.

Of course, this is to prevent injuries and avoid damaging the equipment.

Swimming World Records Are Not Automatically Recorded

Now this is amazing. Swimming stars must fax in their times.

Yes, even today, if a swimmer sets a world record, they have to submit it via fax because it must first be verified by the sport’s governing body, FINA.

Imagine modern day heroes trying to get to grips with technology from yesteryear?

Wrestlers Must Carry A Handkerchief

Olympic wrestlers must carry a hanky, known as a “bloodrag,” somewhere in their uniform.

It’s used to clean up any bleeding during the competition.

Nothing to do with catching sneezes in the summer then.

Before Competition, Water Polo Players Have Their Toenails Checked 

As a regular human being, this probably should be a necessity for hygiene reasons.

But Water polo players, especially, must trim their toenails to prevent scratches underwater.

A referee will check toes too.

Clean Hair Only For Karate Competitors

Make sure to lather up that shampoo you karate kids, because referees in that sport have the authority to disqualify an athlete if they judge their hair to be dirty.

Clean hair also reduces the risk of transmitting infections and diseases during close-contact combat, the rule book states.

Sadly, karate didn’t make the Paris 2024 list of sports this time. 

No Groin Grabbing In Water Polo

This goes with all sports, but the fact it’s spelled out makes it all the more strange.

Water polo is a physically demanding sport, you have to be superfit and have shoulders wider than London Bridge.

However, excessive force, including groin grabbing, is strictly prohibited.

Beach Volleyball Uniforms Are Decided By A Coin Toss

The outfits in beach volleyball are flamboyant to say the least, with lots of contrasting colours.

But what happens if two countries face off against each other wearing identical colours?

Well, then a coin toss determines which team must change.

Cyclists’ Socks Can Only Go To Mid-Calf

In Olympic cycling, there’s an unusual uniform rule: socks cannot extend beyond mid-calf length and are subject to measurement.

This is in place to maintain fair competition and aerodynamic consistency.

Longer socks could provide an aerodynamic advantage by reducing drag, and regulating sock length ensures all cyclists compete under the same conditions. Science.

Equestrians Must Be Silent

Have you ever watched the equestrian events at the Olympics and thought to yourself, ‘I could hear a pin drop?’

That is because the riders have to be silent.

At the 1932 Olympics, a Swedish equestrian was penalised for clicking his tongue.

He was denoted to last place on the leaderboard, even though he argued it was due to his saddle and not an attempt to control his horse.