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Disabled athlete granted access to compete in Beijing


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Get excited for this summer's sports hero. Well, he has to qualify, first...

Oscar Pistorius will try out for this summer's Olympic Games. His carbon fiber prosthetics are code-named "Cheetahs".

With this movement by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, disabled athletes will be able to compete with able-bodied athlete unless the the International Association of Athletics Federation can "provide indubitable scientific evidence to the contrary", reports The New York Times today.

-Jake
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FROM ARTICLE:

Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee sprinter who was barred from able-bodied competition in January, will be allowed to pursue his dream of qualifying for the Olympic Games after an unexpected decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Court, an international panel which has final say over legal matters in sport, overturned the International Association of Athletics Federations’ ban, ruling in effect that Pistorius’ carbon fiber prosthetic blades do not give him an unfair advantage.

The court came to a decision after hearing expert testimony from Pistorius’s camp and the I.A.A.F., track and field’s governing body, on April 29 and 30 in Lausanne, Switzerland. It published its opinion in a statement at 9 a.m., Eastern time.The I.A.A.F. had declared Pistorius ineligible for able-bodied competition in January despite originally clearing him to compete last spring, pending further investigation. Pistorius will be allowed to resume his efforts immediately.

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What the decision means for other disabled athletes hoping to compete in the Olympics is that they will be allowed to compete with able-bodied athletes unless the I.A.A.F. can provide indubitable scientific evidence to the contrary. In the past, I.A.A.F. spokesman Nick Davies has insisted that these matters can only be treated on a case by case basis with the burden of proof on the athletes to show that the prosthetics do not provide an unfair advantage.

“Unless there is adequate evidence to support that determination,” Kessler said. “Then the disabled should be allowed to compete.”
jwhitcom

31 responses // Disabled athlete granted access to compete in Beijing

  • This is excellent!
    AndreaKnoll
  • Its great in a sense that it is including everyone. But how are non-disabled athletes going to feel?

    How are they going to judge if the prosthetic legs can assist the runner? They can't match the efficiency to the "average" runner, because that wouldn't be the human limit. On the flip side the prosthetic leg can hinder a runner. Both situations lead to an unfair race.
    ipodrulz
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here and here
    Performance enhancing prosthetics should not be allowed just as performance enhancing substances are not allowed.
    Purdey
  • Problem is:If you let him run with able-bodied runners, then how can you be sure the prosthetics aren't providing him advantage? It's unfair to able-bodied people.
    But, if you don't let him run with able-bodied runners, then the public opinion would say you're discriminating against him.
    It's a delicate matter.
    ce_ci
  • But why should we have bump disabled people into Disabled Olympics if they are first off, more abled than us who are dubbed as 'abled', but not athletes and second are just as or more 'abled' than proper athletes. Hardly seems fair if they train the same amount!
    glenobo
  • I don't agree with this decision at all, no offense to this man or other disabled people, but the athletes who compete in the olympics are there because they have trained every muscle group to perfection and pushed the limits of the human body. While I'm sure this man has trained very hard, he has less muscles to train, and springs replacing the ones he's missing, giving him more room to improve other muscle groups. It's unfair on many levels, and a bit manipulative on Oscar's part.
    pirho338
  • This will be a hot topic for all of the good reasons listed here.

    My hope is that the controversy helps improve the metrics by which the I.A.A.F. investigates each athlete, eventually ruling out the possibility of a performance enhancing prosthetic. And maybe they are already to that point; I don't know enough to say.

    I hope discussions of performance enhancing drugs and prosthetics stay separate--the motivations are very different... right?
    jwhitcom
  • ''Purdey:
    Performance enhancing prosthetics should not be allowed just as performance enhancing substances are not allowed.''

    not if the enhancement brings the athete up to the ogininal neutral point where all athetes start from, who are you to rob a mans dreams when its been tested and proven that the prostetics do not give him an unfair advantage. I think this is a significant step in the right direction, away from discrimination, and towards equality of oppertunity for all.
    R7
    • R7
    • 4 months ago
  • but he can't bring himself to that neutral point, the prosthetics do it for him, nobody else has that luxury of not having to worry about training to get to a certain point, he wakes up, puts the prosthetics on and bam, he's got the ability of an olympian. Its not equal, and who's to say what said neutral point is? He has an extreme advantage. His legs are springs for f**k's sake!
    pirho338
  • the neutral point is the ability to walk and run.. an ability that many people take for granted.. its not as if he takes off his real legs and puts on his 'cheat' legs now is it, thier his only option. and in my opinion of the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the I.A.A.F. are both agreeing that the prostetics arent giving him an unfair advantage, taking away the oppertunity for him to represent his country at the olympics would be pure discrimination. if he were awarded an advantage, i would definatly apose the decision, but oposing it inspite of the research and testing done, is descrimination, in its purest.
    R7
    • R7
    • 4 months ago
  • I wonder if this is how Ghost in the Shell got started...
    AreOh
  • Well, we can't really know if he has an unfair advantage until there's a race to prove it, no?

    Honestly, it's not as easy as some people perceive it to be. When you are in an accident and somehow manage to lose your legs, your body won't just simply accept other "legs" and be all dandy-happy. You don't just turn into an athlete.

    You have to learn how to walk again. You only have control over your thighs, whereas the metal and spring that replace your calves and feet are completely out of your control until you learn how to balance your movements to work them in your favor, to your speed, and gracefully as if actually walking.

    For crying out loud people, you speak as if the trauma a man goes through is nothing compared to an athlete who spent years to train. Try it yourselves and see how hard it is. (And no, I'm not handicapped, but I know some who are.)
    pasquinade
  • This is not right, he will be using about 30% less energy then everyone else. This gives him an edge, he should be in the special olympics.
    dmass5
  • Equality for all is the right way to go.
    current89
  • The entire case was premised on whether the prosthetics were performance enhancing or not. Oscar won, therefore they were deemed as not enhancing. Besides, why are there not more multiple amputees with these prosthetics making a name for themselves by smashing records?
    BillionJawingNeurons
  • i see a great future where athetes and amputees alike compete together in a discrimination free world, that will truly show a new age, celebrating our differences, rather than opressing them..
    R7
    • R7
    • 4 months ago
  • ...anybody remember battlebots?
    whatis
  • This is bullshit. It's not a level playing field.
    kramericus
  • I reckon we're all born with different genetic predispositions, so there's no level playing field for anyone anyway... if you're very good at any one sport, good genes (via luck) are going to play a part.
    lwhi
  • http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b7/Sixmillio...
    We are seeing some amazing advancements in medical prosthetics but that you cannot expect one human being without modifications to compete against someone with modifications.
    Purdey
  • This is an quite an inspirational story. For him to pursue his dream and follow what he believes in is very remarkable! Best of luck to Pistorius!
    aaronklong
  • Well if he is allowed to wear those can a person who is not disabled find a way to affix those springy prosthetics to their feet and race with those on? Can he switch out prosthetics for different events, say some big springs for the high jump? This is absolutely asinine.

    Maybe now we can take away their special parking privileges........just kidding.
    observer2121
  • That's just cool, go Bladerunner!
    eldamon
  • watch this comment being used here and here
    He's missing both legs. HE'S MISSING BOTH LEGS!

    And he has an advantage? They showed this guy on ESPN and they've studied the "Cheetahs" and the research has so far shown that they are less efficient than having real legs. Sure, at some point, maybe they'll start making them good enough to be better than a real leg, but they're not at that point yet, and when they do reach that point, all that's needed is regulation.

    If he has such an advantage, why aren't there a ton of amputees dominating track right now? Answer: he doesn't have an advantage. If any of you actually watched him race, you'd realize he's at a severe disadvantage from the start. There is no possible way for him to get out of the blocks like someone with both legs. He basically starts the race 5 meters behind and he somehow has an advantage? Ludicrous.
    thebigchuckbowski
  • I think the Court of Arbitration for Sport made the right decision. People won't know if he stands at an advantage or not until he runs against human competitors. This could even lead to better prosthetic technology once he competes, and that would be more valuable than a gold medal.
    lifestudentno83
  • At the very most, the Olympic Committee should add events such as "100m sprint with prosthetic" and have the elite handicapped athletes compete with each other, there should be no cries of unfair and could lead to improved prosthetics.
    viking7686
  • keep it up dude , you deserve a shot at the Olympics
    sail4life8
  • menomale! Era ora! Great!
    insonya
  • The man's an inspiration, plain and simple.
    May he run for as long as he likes, wherever he likes.
    huntre
  • Cheetahs are just plain awesome. If I lost my legs I know I'd want a pair. Time to get "chromed"!
    Dmitri_Molotov
  • What about pain? no ankle sprains, no stepping-on-a pebble, and the likes... no, i don't think it's fair. I think the man is indeed an inspiration, but he should compete within his category, but hey, thet's just me.
    sara1111

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