Prosthetic-limbed runner disqualified from Olympics

Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee sprinter, has been denied a shot at the Olympics... for being too fast. The runner -- who uses carbon-fiber, prosthetic feet -- was reviewed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (or IAAF), a review which found the combination of man and machine to be too much for its purely human competitors. According to the IAAF report, the "mechanical advantage of the blade in relation to the healthy ankle joint of an able bodied athlete is higher than 30-percent." Additionally, Pistorius uses 25-percent less energy than average runners due to the artificial limbs, therefore giving him an unfair advantage on the track... or so they say. Oscar is expected to appeal the decision, saying a lack of variables explored by the single scientific study calls for deeper investigation into the matter. Our suggestion? Prosthetic legs for all!

[Via Medgadget]

[Genuis Bartender @ Jan 17th 2008 12:34PM]

Here's the letter to the IAAF from the CEO of the company that makes the Cheetahs. Worth reading.

http://www.ossur.com/?PageID=631&NewsID=1802

[Genuis Bartender @ Jan 17th 2008 12:38PM]

From the letter I quoted:

"The technology used in Oscar’s Cheetah Flex-Foot prosthetic feet has existed since 1997. Scores of amputee athletes have used the very same product to compete at an international level of sport over the years. Some have come close to able-bodied world record times, but what we have in Oscar is an extraordinary athlete: one who has taken technology that has existed for a decade and pushed it to its very limit."

[Genuis Bartender @ Jan 17th 2008 12:43PM]

More from Ossur here:
http://www.ossur.com/?PageID=6743

"The breadth of the testing commissioned by the IAAF was incomplete and inconclusive insofar as determining with any certainty whether Mr. Pistorius’ prostheses are giving him an unfair advantage. We hold Professor Bruggemann’s clinical expertise with Olympic athletes in high regard. However, upon review of his findings, we have determined that there are aspects of his results that demand further investigation and require consensus among experts familiar with athletics and the amputee sprinter."

"To test a prosthesis separately as a component, and not as a completely integrated part of the amputee’s body, generates data that is technically incomplete and flawed."

[Genuis Bartender @ Jan 17th 2008 12:55PM]

And more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/sports/20070514_RUNNER_GRAPHIC.html

[Taylor @ Jan 17th 2008 1:14PM]

First, let me say that I feel for the guy and he appears to be an awesome athlete. But back on track... isn't the olympics about using the human body. Even if his 'legs' didn't give him any advantage, he's still using an 'aid' and not real human legs.

[bdkennedy1 @ Jan 17th 2008 1:22PM]

See? Becoming Borg is just common sense.

[MichaelD @ Jan 17th 2008 1:59PM]

I am the One who is Many. Shed your flawed humanity and join me. Together we can achieve perfection.

[toyotaboy @ Jan 17th 2008 1:37PM]

How ironic is that? the prosthetic runner has an advantage over an able bodied person, I think alanis morsette needs to write a sequel

"it's like running on blades, only to get disqualified"

[eKalb @ Jan 17th 2008 3:15PM]

They should let him compete, and for those who say he would be getting an advantage over the others, no one is saying they can't cut off their own legs and get the same blades.

Actually I would like to see a comparison of times of a person with normal legs, and then they lose the legs and try again with the blades.

[muyiwa @ Jan 17th 2008 3:33PM]

isn't that why they created the paralympics?

[roboleg @ Jan 17th 2008 3:50PM]

Im sorry but i am an amputee and i gotta say that the person who decided to tell people that it takes less energy to move a prosthetic is full of crap... my prosthesis weighs in at a whopping 15lbs but i only have my hip muscles to move it and it takes a whole lot more muscle and energy to do so... I think that this guy should be allowed to partake in the olympics on behalf of all of us amputees...

[Garst @ Jan 17th 2008 6:12PM]

How much do you think an adult leg weighs? With skin, muscles, bone and blood, it actually weighs more than 15 lbs.

[roboleg @ Jan 18th 2008 12:30PM]

yes i agree but the main difference is the anatomy of the leg... in order for you to propel your legs the quadracepts are used for everything below the knee as well as the hip flexor for all things above the knee... the leg utilizes a complex group of muscles that when you lose your leg disintegrate, thereby requiring the use of 1 muscle group for the whole thing... try lifting 5 pounds with your arm and then try lifting 5 pounds with just your wrist or even your finger... its the same weight, but much more difficult

[Garst @ Jan 17th 2008 5:21PM]

His plight does not move me.

[Hung @ Jan 17th 2008 5:58PM]

@ IndiaTech

That is such bullshit that I'm not sure where to start.
(1) Track suits, shoes, diets, camps, etc are available to ALL athletes and promote competition through hard work and determination. It takes a lot of work to afford all that shit. Steroids, not "Kinda OK" but never ok, aren't allowed either, dipshit. If doping were allowed, then it would be available to everyone and thus fair.
(2) Double amputee with prosthetic legs. What kind of message does that send? He may suffer more than the other competitors, but this just promotes people to go to incredulous extremes in order to play around the rules. This is why steroids aren't allowed. Sure, some athletes probably have allergies or atrophied muscles, but they still aren't allowed to compete if they use steroids.
(3) Very few kids look up to Barry Bonds and company and aspire to use steroids.
(4) "How many are 'randomly' test?" All of them. All of them receive a comprehensive evaluation for any performance and health incongruities. If anyone is accused of cheating post-evaluation, a re-evaluation occurs. The IAAF does not discriminate.

I agree that the IAAF's testing should occur on Oscar's terms, so that he agrees that his participation is not valid. But to conclude that the testing is unfair and inherently reprehensible is liken to treating someone better because they have a disability. You should be nice to the less fortunate (as you should be to the equally and more fortunate), not condescending and overbearing.

[DynamicDataExchange @ Jan 17th 2008 7:34PM]

You fools, he is better than any human. But, only a few know (the trainer, the family, himself)

The prothesis is like a spring. He pulls his weight down and jumps forward in bigger steps. Watch the videos in slow motion and measure the steps distance. That is why he starts slow then gets momentum as the race progresses. There are toys like those blades.

BTW, Paralympics will be a better show in the future. Definitely. That is why Oscar should run there, beat the crap out of any record and start cashing in some money for research.

Ta ta, mfs

[Frank Van Bokkelen @ Jan 17th 2008 8:52PM]

Let's face it: those prosthetics are better for running than the "stock equipment" we are born with. His legs are lighter and require less energy per swing. It's an unfair advantage. As prosthetics improve, it would eventually become impossible for a non-amputee to win the Olympics. Therefore, he has to be banned. It's like bringing a 100cc motorcycle to a 50cc race. Not fair, but there's nothing wrong with having a different race with all 100cc bikes. Recumbent bikes are not allowed in the Tour de France for the same reason.

[sean4u @ Jan 17th 2008 11:16PM]

@Mark - Torque is probably the point. Any modification that moves the centre of mass of his legs closer to the hip will mean that less torque is required to change the angular momentum of the leg about the hip.

Tullie is right. To win the 100m, what you really need is just one really light, long appendage. Then you could just 'whip' it out when the pistol goes.

It seems tough on Oscar now, but I'm expecting the paralympians to be pushing world records beyond the reach of olympians in the next few years. Olympians who'll think that's unfair won't ... have a leg to stand on.

[Jkswiss @ Jan 17th 2008 11:20PM]

I think they made the right call. You don't want a question mark by someones world record because they didn't have real legs. You know that everyone up until that point has used their flesh and bone legs, I don't want one person to ruin it for everyone. There is a set standard and you must comply with that standard. I mean it sucks for that guy that he doesn't have legs but tough luck man, life's not fair.

[uli @ Jan 17th 2008 11:42PM]

has anybody bothered to ask the only people who SHOULd be allowed to care if he runs or not? Namely the other athletes?

I would be damned if i were a world class runner and accepted that anybody with both legs cut off had an "advantage"!

===

Also, would it be so wrong if the manufacturers (and developers) of prosthetic devices of any kind got a public endorsement and a forum?

Something that goes beyond the hool, wooden legs or glass eyes?

===

regards

[JOEJOESMITH @ Jan 17th 2008 11:50PM]

not cool, if he is fast enough he should run, not very olipian to keep him out, what can we do to help?

[Kyle N. @ Jan 18th 2008 12:19AM]

I, for one, welcome our new cyborg overlords...

[Matthew Song @ Jan 18th 2008 12:53AM]

This article really annoyed me. Either he is handicapped or not. I fail to see a benefit to having prosthetic legs. If anything, just get a vote from the other athletes, or even better, at least give him some exhibition match against the other athletes we can watch televised and see what kind of accomplishment this guy has made for himself. He deserves that respect.

[redspear @ Jan 18th 2008 2:48AM]

Look any ruling set now by the IAAF will be harder to reverse in the future. 30 years ago this guy would have a major hinderence as time has gone improvements in prostetics they have gotten better and better. Even if he doesn't have atrue advantage at this time in a few technology will be even better maybe to where a true advantage is evident how will the IAAF handle that.

On the issue of advantages or disadvantage I think it is largely irrelevant now. The main thing is he is running with DIFFERENT stresses on his body different things to break down or wear out. He may have a hard time trying to balance but he is less likely to get a leg cramp(something when you really push yourself). I have to admire him for competing and do not knock his abilities but if you change his artificial legs you change his performance something no one else could claim.

As someone else said would you allow a boxer or a wrestler with prosthetic limbs? how about a karate championship where a guy has a carbon fiber arm. This is the slippery slope this type of thing opens. A pole jump with spring load legs?

[Jonathan @ Jan 18th 2008 6:10AM]

it's not a time to bicker but a time to celebrate this milestone. Err.. Go Science? hehe..

[JeanHuguesRobert @ Jan 18th 2008 12:54PM]

What a pity!

What should have been done:

1/ Wait until an "enhanced man" win.
2/ Create a distinct category for "enhanced men".

I have no words to qualify the in-humanity of the people who decided otherwise.

Baron de Coubertin must roll in his tomb (doit se retourner dans sa tombe).

And the Greeks too for sure!

[Jarrett @ Jan 18th 2008 1:27PM]

A lot has been said on behalf of Pistorius's not being able to enter, but from the viewpoint of the non-handicapped runners, I think the ruling was a fair one. Energy output aside, runners without handicaps such as Pistorius's have to also work on conditioning the muscles in their feet and ankles, which take as much conditioning as the other muscles used in the legs, torso, and arms. I sympathize with him, but at the same time, the fact that he lacks feet and ankles to condition does give him another advantage over non-handicapped runners. With the existence of other "Olympics"-like events, I don't think that the official Olympics needs to change its policies or events to accommodate him. Rules against anabolic steroids and the like exist to keep "enhanced humans" (as it were) from competing, and while I'm not trying to liken Pistorius's condition to injecting oneself with illegal steroids, his legs do offer him some advantage over a healthy, "au natural" human.

[mikey91 @ Jan 19th 2008 1:17AM]

How about getting this guy in the Olympics: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PmQljQE_Fyg

[Icehazard @ Jan 19th 2008 4:02AM]

Poor guy for being rejected. He should go to the paralympics what are they gonna say No ur handicapped? i read somewhere that wid those "legs" you can run like 30km/h!!! i think lol

[Mike V @ Jan 20th 2008 5:40PM]

The guy is a legend.

Let him run.

If other runners want to get their limbs amputated and be fitted with similar devices then let them.

[OriginalPseudonym @ Jan 20th 2008 11:54PM]

Personally, I'd want to see what tests these scientists did. I mean, if missing both your legs is such a bleeding advantage, why aren't world records being set by the Paralympics? Hey, his ankles won't break while running, which is an unfair advantage over everyone else who's...ankles do break while running? And that overrides the bit where he's missing every muscle below his knee.

[irate1 @ Jan 21st 2008 1:46PM]

This is unbelievable. I think I should be able to compete in the paralympics. I have both my legs, so if i were in a wheelchair race, my extra legs would weigh me down more than someone who has no legs. I don't think it's fair to keep people out of the paralympics just because they don't have any physical limitations. There is no way I could make it in the Olympics, because I'm not of Olympic caliber, but I do think I could stand a chance in the paralympics. They should let me.

Also, let's say there was a man who had no legs below the knees and he wanted to compete in the swimming competition and his prosthetics were shaped like flippers or propellers? Would that be ok. Is it really necessary for the IAAF to spend additional time and money to determine scientifically the advantages or disadvantages of using some artificial limb? I thought the Olympics were for the best of the best. A man missing the lower part of both legs in this case may not be Olympic material.

[zeev kirsh @ Jan 21st 2008 3:58PM]

there is no such thing as fair competition. regardless of stilts. the reason is because all competition boils down to one thing...life vs. the universe. the competition to organize entropy locally by moving it elsewhere out of the system we call 'life'. this competition can never be won, so it is not fair, hence all other derivative competition is not fair either.

you think being big and strong vs. another big and strong is fair? no it's just percieved as fair until genetics and superior food and training make it obvious that one person has an advantage.