Oscar Pistorius, aka Blade Runner, has been told by IAAF that he cannot compete in this year's Beijing Olympics because the artificial legs he uses give him an unfair advantage.
Pistorius, who as an 11-month-old baby, had both of his legs amputated below the knee because he was born without fibulas, runs on specially adapted carbon-fiber blades that have seen him win Paralympic titles and challenge the times set by top-level able-bodied athletes.
A scientific investigation into his springy prosthetics carried out by the Institute of Biomechanics at Cologne University last November found that they gave him a clear competitive edge over such athletes.
"Pistorius was able to run with his prosthetic blades at the same speed as the able-bodied sprinters with about 25 percent less energy expenditure," the IAAF statement said yesterday.
But Oscar Pistorius denies he gains an unfair advantage over his rivals and he said (video below) that he will contest any ban imposed by the IAAF on his racing activities.