The 7th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held in the Green Dome Maebashi stadium in Maebashi, Japan from March 5 to March 7, 1999.

It was the first time the Championships were staged outside Europe or North America.

Primo Nebiolo, president of the IAAF, characterized the championships as "the greatest ever".

Four medalists were disqualified for doping; Rostislav Dimitrov of Bulgaria was stripped of the triple jump silver, Inger Miller of the USA was stripped of the 60 metre bronze, Vita Pavlysh of Ukraine was stripped of the shot put gold and Irina Korzhanenko of Russia was stripped of the shot put silver.

[1] 1 Rostislav Dimitrov of Bulgaria originally won the silver medal, but was disqualified for doping.