New rules to avoid a repeat of the Jon Drummond incident that disrupted the World Athletics Championships on Sunday are being considered by the sport's world governing body.

The American sprinter halted competition for nearly an hour as he refused to leave the track when he was disqualified for a false start in the second round of the men's 100 metres.

The International Association of Athletics Federations said on Thursday that a clearly defined procedure is needed to make sure such an episode does not happen again.

Among the measures considered was to remove the blocks immediately from the lane of a disqualified athlete.

Removing the athlete's name from the start list and making sure the announcers in the stadium clearly explained the rules and the screens did not show footage of the incident would also help, the IAAF said after its council meeting.

The starters could also be asked to avoid disqualifying more than one athlete at the same time, said the ruling body.

Jamaica's Asafa Powell was disqualified along with Drummond in the same 100 metres heat on Sunday when they both set off the sensors in their blocks.

Drummond, 34, lay on the track, argued with officials and attempted to return to his blocks in scenes unprecedented in either a World championships or an Olympic Games.

The American withdrew from the World championships on Tuesday and was then officially disqualified by the IAAF.

The IAAF has opened an investigation into the behaviour of Drummond and an American team official who allegedly advised the athlete not to accept his disqualification.