Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
World Athletics secured the highest score of 228 out of 240 in the Sixth Review of International Federation Governance conducted by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) for 2025-26. This marks an increase from 214 in the previous review and is the highest among 36 participating federations, 14 of which are in the A1 band.
The federation has remained in the top band for three consecutive reviews, advancing from the A2 to the A1 band in 2022 and showing significant progress since 2016-17 when it was in the B band with a score of 113 out of 200.
ASOIF evaluated governance across five categories: transparency, integrity, democracy, development and sustainability, and control mechanisms. World Athletics earned maximum scores in transparency and near-maximum scores in integrity and democracy.
Recent improvements since the prior 2023-24 review include the overhaul of the federation’s development programme and full implementation of the Athletics for a Better World Standard, along with expanded safeguarding policies and procedures.
Governance remains a central focus of World Athletics' Pioneering Change strategic plan for 2024-2027, emphasizing transparent and robust electoral processes ahead of the 2027 World Athletics Congress, to be overseen by an independent Election Oversight Panel.