You're a Cheetah - IAAF ban runner with no legs from Beijing Olympics

Blade runner Oscar Pistorius has Paralympic chiefs on his side as he fights the decision to ban him from regular athletics.

The sport's governing body, the IAAF, yesterday banned Pistorius, who has had both legs amputated, from all competition against able-bodied athletes. This follows the findings of tests which showed the 21-year-old South African's carbon-fibre blades gave him a clear competitive advantage.

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Tests in Cologne in November revealed the blades enabled Pistorius to run at the same speed as able-bodied runners on about a quarter less energy once he hit a certain stride. The returned energy from the prosthetic blade is close to three times higher than with the human ankle joint at maximum speed.

But Pistorius's agent, Peet van Zyl, told the BBC after Monday's verdict: 'The natural feeling from our side would be to appeal the verdict and see what avenues we can take forward. Oscar wants to prove that he isn't getting an advantage.'

The International Paralympic Committee did not dispute the IAAF's science or their right to interpret their rules but they believe, like Pistorius, that other factors compensate for any advantage and want further research.

The IPC said in a statement: 'The use of an assistive device should not only be considered in solely biomechanical terms. It is recommended that further investigations take into consideration other aspects such as an examination of the energy loss or generation of the corresponding knee and hip joints as well as the impact of the amputation site contact with the prostheses.

'Equipment plays a critical role in many sports. Equipment evolves and it is the responsibility of federations like the IPC and the IAAF to stay abreast of these developments. Rules, regulations and performance standards must be developed to ensure that equipment is safe, fair and universally accessible.'