Paralympian faces Olympic ban
Wednesday, 19 Dec 2007 21:34
Pistorious may not be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes
South African Paralympian Oscar Pistorius' dream of competing against able-bodied athletes at the Olympic Games could be over.
The IAAF recently commissioned biomechanical analysis to be undertaken into the 'blades' used by Pistorius and whether they gave him an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes.
Pistorious is a double amputee and uses carbon fibre prosthetics to help him continue his athletics career.
The 21-year-old has had significant success at the Paralympics, securing a bronze medal in the 100 metres and gold in the 200 meters at the 2004 games, and also holds the world record at 100, 200 and 400 meters.
Pistorious ran against able-bodied athletes at grand prix events last summer and hoped those outings would help his case to be allowed to compete at the Beijing Olympics next year.
Professor Peter Bruggemann, who carried out the investigation on behalf of the IAFF, delivered his report to the organisation today.
Although the IAAF says it will not comment on it until the New Year Professor Bruggemann says it is unlikely that Pistorius will be allowed to race at the Olympics.
He told German newspaper Die Welt: "He [Pistorius] has a considerable advantage compared with athletes without prosthetic limbs who have undergone the same tests.
"The difference is several percentage points and I did not think the findings would be so conclusive."
Pistorious must now wait until the IAAF gives its official verdict but Professor Bruggemann comments suggest he will have to find an alternative to his blades if he wants to compete at the Olympic Games.