It was previously planned that a new world rankings system would be used to qualify athletes for next year's Championships, but this suggestion received significant criticism.

Critics argued it would heavily favour certain types of athletes and geographical areas, saying it would primarily benefit those invited to Diamond League events and athletes from the Northern Hemisphere, where the vast majority of the IAAF's high-ranking events take place.

Now, following feedback from "the global athletics community", the IAAF have announced they will continue to use the traditional system involving qualification times and distances, for the time being.

"After carefully listening to groups across the global athletics community, it is apparent while there is broad support for a new world ranking system, there is still work to do to give full confidence that the points-based system is equally fair to all athletes and in all regions," a statement from the governing body reads.

Rather than shelving the new proposal entirely, they say they will continue to explore and develop the idea.

The IAAF said the new world ranking system will be introduced as planned next year, just not to qualify athletes for the World Championships.

"The IAAF's primary concern, as always, is for the athletes," the statement continued.

"So, while uncertainty remains in the points-based process the IAAF will extend the period of consultation.

"To do this without impacting the training regimes and preparations in advance of the IAAF World Championships next year, the IAAF Council agreed to stick with the existing qualification system."

"The IAAF Council has also agreed to introduce the new world rankings system as planned for the 2019 season so all athletes and all federations can follow the world ranking system in real time and become more familiar with the process before they become the primary qualifying route for the major Championships."

IAAF President Sebastian Coe said he strongly believes that long term, a world ranking system is the best way forward.

"Implementing change takes time as it is important our athletes and federations fully understand what is a complex system," he said.

"We want to give the sport the opportunity to see the world rankings in action and understand how they will work before we introduce the new system in full.

"We trust that once everyone understands the world rankings system they will be confident about its introduction as the qualification system for future Championships."

It all means that under the pre-existing system, as usual athletes will be able to qualify for the 2019 Championships in four possible ways.

The first is by achieving the relevant entry standard, which will be set in December, within the qualification period.

Wildcards, reigning world champions and 2019 Diamond League winners can also qualify and, in the case of the hammer throw specifically, the winner of the IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge.

In these cases, however, only one athlete per country can receive a wildcard and each country can only take a maximum of four athletes per event.

Tickets for the 2019 World Championships - which will run from September 27 to October 6 in Qatar's capital - went on sale yesterday.