'Blade Runner' Found to Have Advantage

Amputee expected to be banned from Olympics after expert ruling
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 10, 2008 9:00 AM CST
'Blade Runner' Found to Have Advantage
South Africa's Oscar Pistorius reacts after the men's 400-meter during the Golden Gala athletics meeting in Rome's Olympic stadium, Friday, July 13, 2007. Pistorius, who races on carbon fiber blades attached below his knees, placed second. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)   (Associated Press)

The double amputee who has petitioned to be included in this year's Olympic track and field events is likely to be denied his request today, the Guardian reports. A biomechanics expert concluded that the J-shaped carbon-fiber prosthetics South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius uses gives him an unfair advantage in stride and stamina over other runners.

Olympics governing body IAAF is expected to announce its determination today, after a German scientist who spent two days with Pistorius found that he has an unfair advantage. "We're talking more than just a few percentage points," he said of the boost Pistorius' springy "Cheetah" blades give the champion of the Paralympics 200m race. (More 2008 Beijing Olympics stories.)

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