"Blade Runner" Barred From Olympics

Double-Amputee Sprinter Told Prosthetic Racing Blades Give Him An Unfair Advantage

(AP)  The IAAF ruled Monday that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because his prosthetic racing blades give him a clear competitive advantage.

The International Association of Athletics Federations had twice postponed the ruling, but the executive Council said the South African runner's curved, prosthetic "Cheetah" blades were considered a technical aid in violation of the rules.

"As a result, Oscar Pistorius is ineligible to compete in competitions organized under IAAF Rules," the IAAF said in a statement.

Pistorius, known as the "blade runner," announced last week that he would appeal any adverse decision, including taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The IAAF endorsed studies by German professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who conducted tests on the prosthetic limbs and said they give Pistorius a clear competitive advantage over able-bodied runners.

"An athlete using this prosthetic blade has a demonstrable mechanical advantage (more than 30 percent) when compared to someone not using the blade," the IAAF said.

Pistorius worked with Brueggemann in Cologne for two days of testing in November to learn to what extent the j-shaped carbon-fiber extensions to his amputated legs differed from the legs of fully abled runners.

Brueggemann found that Pistorius was able to run at the same speed as able bodied runners on about a quarter less energy. He found that once the runners hit a certain stride, athletes with artificial limbs needed less additional energy than other athletes.

The professor found that the returned energy "from the prosthetic blade is close to three times higher than with the human ankle joint in maximum sprinting."

Based on these findings, the Council ruled against Pistorius, seen at left.

The IAAF adopted a rule last summer prohibiting the use of any "technical aids" deemed to give an athlete an advantage over another.

Ossur, the Icelandic company which is a leader in the production of prosthetics, braces and supports and also made Pistorius' blades, has said the blades do not provide an edge over able-bodied athletes.

Pistorius has set world records in the 100, 200 and 400 in Paralympic events. To make the Olympics in Beijing, Pistorius would still need to qualify for the South African team and make the qualifying times.

Pistorius was born without fibulas - the long, thin outer bone between the knee and ankle - and was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee.

He began running competitively four years ago to treat a rugby injury, and nine months later won the 200 meters at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens.

Pistorius competed in the 400 at two international-level able-bodied meets in 2007. He finished second in a B race in 46.90 seconds at the Golden League meet in Rome on July 13 and, two days later, was disqualified for running out of his lane in Sheffield, England.

[nmyhappyplc]

With mixed emotions, I never thought I would see the day that a "handicapped" individual would be seen as having an ADVANTAGE over "non-handicapped" people in Olympic sports! I''m very disappointed that he was ruled against, but kind of elated that technology is advancing to help people in this capacity.

[allunknowing]

It''s Ludicrous to think that he is on the same playing field as someone with whole legs, actually using ankles. Knee and ankle injuries disable/disqualify the most athletes in present day sports. And he is completely void of the possibility of getting any below the femur injury.

Maybe he should get a bunch of different specialized attachments and then to the decathalon. Switching attachments to match whichever event he''s doing next.

[ronaldhar]

Whether he''s got an advantage or not it must mostly be due to his physical abilities, strong character and unwillingness to give up. In general, a handicapped person even on best blades available and even after years of training wouldn''t be able to achieve the results this guys did!!!

He is definitely one of the BEST EXAMPLES of what a man should be!!! Good luck Oscar!!!

[sasi1-2009]

This is discrimination. This man''s prosthetic legs are not powered by anything except his own body, so there should be nothing to stop him from being an olympic contender!

[motherhen11]

What a hunk!

[godseyesore-2009]

It is NOT discrimination against this man. If you were in a leaping contest and someone used a pogo stick, would you claim foul as a competitor or just weep with joy that he had a pogo stick?

[toolmangler-2009]

With mixed emotions, I never thought I would see the day that a "handicapped" individual would be seen as having an ADVANTAGE over "non-handicapped" people in Olympic sports! I''''m very disappointed that he was ruled against, but kind of elated that technology is advancing to help people in this capacity.
Posted by nmyhappyplc at 08:33 AM : Jan 14, 2008


This should come as no surprise, A prosthetic out performing the real thing. Check out eyeglasses capabilities, with the right glasses I can see the craters on the Moon,a really good hearing aid can hear a spider walk. Were this to be allowed, it is conceivable that a few determined individuals might opt to have their lower legs replaced by blades. this would result for awhile in the Olympics being a joke. So don''t start it to begin with, then you don''t have to deal with the fallout, later.

[drdilemma]

If they actually do give him an advantage, then I do agree, and maybe the designers of his legs should find a way to better match the amount of energy expended and returned by a full set of legs. But honestly this seems like just another lesson of "if you don''t fit in you don''t belong".

[displeased]

This is great that technology allows people with disabilities to perform competitively, but he needs to find a competition that races against other prosthetic racing blades. He shouldn''t be allowed to compete with runners that aren''t allowed to use mechanically engineered devices.

[antoniof123]

I think it is great that he can walk and run but the fact remains if he is allowed to compete then the next advancement will result in the same I should be able to use it because it is only 20% better than the last advancement.

[badfish911]

ya im gonna enter wearing my rollerskates

[random_radar]

If you thought that steroids were bad, wait till you see sprinters get their legs cut off so they can use prosthetic limbs to run faster.

You think I am joking? I guarantee people would do it. If they kill themselves taking steroids, they would cut their limbs off to compete.

Winning is everything--even if it costs you an arm and a leg!

[missingamerica]

What is the guy trying to do? Get a bunch of able-bodied people to crash the Paralympics?

[ralan40]

This should come as no surprise, A prosthetic out performing the real thing. Check out eyeglasses capabilities, with the right glasses I can see the craters on the Moon,a really good hearing aid can hear a spider walk. Were this to be allowed, it is conceivable that a few determined individuals might opt to have their lower legs replaced by blades. this would result for awhile in the Olympics being a joke. So don''''t start it to begin with, then you don''''t have to deal with the fallout, later.
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Posted by ToolMangler at 10:03 AM : Jan 14, 2008

You are quite correct but I think the Olympics ceased to be a serious and legitimate amature competition long ago when corporate sponsorship took over.

[toolmangler-2009]

I think the Olympics ceased to be a serious and legitimate amature competition long ago when corporate sponsorship took over.
Posted by ralan40 at 12:32 PM : Jan 14, 2008



Sad but true.

[smagboy1]

Why not use normal prosthetic legs and race? I''m sure the council would allow that. They''re barring him from using springs. I mean, holy ***, I''d be happy to race against Olypians wearing springs instead of knees and ankles. But, if this guy wants to race with the prosthetics he has here (the ones to his right): http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2008/01/14/image3707932.jpg, then, I''m sure the council would allow it. Seriously people, this is a no brainer.

[susanhelit]

He''s handicapped - but that doesn''t mean the rules don''t apply. The thing is - runners with flesh legs use the same ones for everyday work, where he had a set of legs designed specifically and only for this. They can indeed give him an unfair advantage. It''s cool, that they are actually good enough to be an advantage in this one event - I''m sure prosthetic legs versus normal ones in, let''s say, walking through a field are far worse. The blades are designed for nothing but running - not too surprising they can be designed to give an advantage there.

[dogsoul]

"Well if this don''''t beat all...a double amptee has an unfair advantage over able bodied atheletes...JUST WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TOO? "

Suppose his aid of choice were... a 1967 Chevy Mustang? Would it be fair to hand him a gold medal then? Fact is that it''s nearly impossible to figure out a way to be fair here... If this guy had normal legs - based on his training & physical makeup - he might just be a schmoe who couldn''t even make it IN the Olympics - but as an amputee fitted with these Cheetah legs he''s blowing everyone away & getting the gold medal??? Come on folks...

Look at it THIS way - the very fact that we CAN design a prosthetic that actually gives an amputee an unfair ADVANTAGE in the Olympics is truly a marvel to behold...

[shanev137]

hilarious. the fastest runner in the world doesn''t have any legs.

[iceman_1960]

"Blade Runner" Barred From Olympics. Double-Amputee Sprinter Told Prosthetic Racing Blades Give Him An Unfair Advantage"

Can"t they just amputate the feet of all the other runners ?

[iceman_1960]

"...his prosthetic racing blades give him a clear competitive advantage."

Now why didn"t Barry Bonds think of this ?

[iceman_1960]

"We can rebuild him. We have the technology."

Does Oscar Pistorius run in slow motion, like Steve Austin ("The Million Dollar Man") ?

After his racing career, he should consider law enforcement.

"Dead or Alive, you"re coming with me" - Robocop.

[thee0racle]

too funny. Like I could appeal why I can''t drive a dragster in a Kia race.

[user99999-2009]

As well he should be. We''ve already been tacitly sanctioning chemical advantage fro years, now we''re supposed to begin sanctioning the design wars for mechanical advantage as well. Why don''t we just strap on jet packs? I''ve got no problem treating this guy as an equal personally but in a race you''ve got giant springs instead of legs.

[mitywhity]

He''s the world champ now by default! He''s scientifically proven to be so! How cool.

[gce65]

I don''t agree with this ruling at all. First, disabled athletes had other Olympic games, the Paralympics and Special Olympics, created for them to keep them apart from "able bodied" athletes. Now we find that disabled are not so disabled as once pronounced? Are we going further amend the rules to ban an autistic athlete from competition if it''s found they can concentrate better in shooting or archery or some concentration-based sport?
Whatever. Fine. But the term "world''s fastest man" or whatever will never mean the same thing again unless all people are included.

[gce65]

It also seems the IAAF didn''t balance his advantages with is disadvantages. There was no mention of it in the story. They only looked at the advantages. Using that flawed logic, shouldn''t a double arm amputee be a more advantaged high lumper due to the lighter weight?
Also, if Oscar Pistorius is only advantaged by having prosthetic limbs, then his times should be substantially ahead of world records, which they are not. The prosthetic limbs only allow him to compete in a fairer atmosphere with others.

[canyoutellme-2009]

Here''s what i have to say to this...

Let him compete.. but only if you give those who are NOT amputees blades as well they can put below their feet. They do make ''em you know... They''ll have the same rebound action... but wait, then it wouldn''t be the same event, now would it... i say absolutely do not allow this guy to run in the event.

[swiftjr]

He ought to stop whining. We should put Michael Johnson on a set of blades - maybe then this guy would shut up and realize that he''s just an average athlete with a huge mechanical (articial) advantage.

[ultomatt-2009]

I''m thinking what''s needed is an unlimited Olympics. Steroids, artificial limbs, ya got a jet pack, no problem...whatever it takes to win! This should be the future of the Olympics. Perhaps it could be called The Extreme Olympics, since the word extreme seems to be very popular in sports now. XO? OX? Looks like hugs and kisses to me.