The "dis" in the word "disability" is proving to be the wrong prefix in the case of Oscar Pistorius. The South African athlete has had to battle adversity all his life. He was born without fibulas—the long, thick outer bone between the knee and ankle, and he was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee. Ironically, what others once may have considered a disability is now seen as an unfair advantage.¹

Pistorius had long learned not to consider his artificial legs a hindrance, even refusing to park his car in a spot for the disabled. Pistorius began running competitively 4 years ago to treat a rugby injury, and 9 months later won the 200 meters at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. He finished second in the 400 meters at the South African National Championships in 2007 against able-bodied runners. He has set world records in the 100, 200, and 400 meters in Paralympic events.

Realizing his dream of competing in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, however, is proving to be a challenge he may not be able to overcome. Track and field's governing body has ruled that he is ineligible to compete this summer in Beijing—or in any other sanctioned able-bodied competitions—because his "Cheetah" racing blades are "technical aids" that give him a clear advantage.

"An athlete using this prosthetic blade has a demonstrable mechanical advantage (more than 30%) when compared to someone not using the blade," the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said.¹ The IAAF based its decision on a study in Germany by professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann. Brueggemann found that Pistorius was able to run at the same speed as able-bodied runners on about a quarter less energy. The professor said that once the runners hit a certain stride, athletes with artificial limbs needed less additional energy than other athletes. He determined that the returned energy from the prosthetic blade is "close to three times higher than with the human ankle joint in maximum sprinting."

The IAAF adopted a rule last summer prohibiting "technical aids" deemed to give an athlete an advantage. No one directly questioned the findings of Brueggemann. The producer of Pistorius' Cheetahs and the International Paralympic Committee said more tests should be undertaken. Though he has options to appeal the decision by the IAAF, it comes as a "huge blow" to Pistorius, just as he was making his name among the world's able-bodied athletes.

I think it is ironic that the technological advancements that we encourage for people with disabilities to function at their fullest are now being considered an unfair advantage. Should Pistorius be able to compete in Beijing with able-bodied athletes? Or should the IAAF stand by its decision that Pistorius' racing blades give him a competitive lead? I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Arati Murti

Reference

1. Associated Press. Amputee sprinter ruled ineligible for Olympics. msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/7658380. Accessed January 15, 2008.