Hellanodikai

"There, the method of preliminary training and the kind of exercises are decided by others, and it is not the trainer, but the Hellanodikes who, entirely on his own initiative and without being bound in any way, organizes everything, in accord with the particular circumstances pertaining from time to time. And the Hellanodikes has the whip at his disposal, not only for the athlete, but also for the trainer, and he uses it in case of any contravention of his orders; and all have to conform with the orders of the Hellanodikai, since those who violate them may be immediately excluded from the games" Philostratos, ca. 3rd century AD

These were the Hellanodikai (literary meaning "the judges of the Greeks").

Initially, the post of a Hellanodikes was hereditary. After 584 BC, all citizens of Elis could undertake this position. Their number ranged from two (584 BC) to nine (480 BC), to twelve (368 BC) and then to ten (since 348 BC). They wore purple cloaks. During the games they resided in the Hellanodikaion, a large building in the agora of the city.

It was their responsibility to award the prizes to the victors, or to punish and impose fines on those who did not obey the rules. In order to promote the Games and assure a perfect final spectacle, they had to supervise the athletes during the training month prior to the Games, select those with satisfactory training and single out others of poor performance. Their judgment was covering not only the area of physical performance, but was extending over the athletes' overall character and morality.