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| Should athletes be allowed to use devices like this while competing against those who do not? |
| Yes. |
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33% |
[ 2 ] |
| No. |
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66% |
[ 4 ] |
| Other (please explain) |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
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| Total Votes : 6 |
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Satan
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 18678
Location: Fist in the air in the land of hypocricy.
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 Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:39 am Post subject: Double amputee sprinter cleared to try for Olympic spot |
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I remember hearing about this guy when he was first denied the right.
I'm curious what people think. Should a guy using this type of technology be allowed to compete against regularly abled athletes?
| Quote: |
The Court of Arbitration for Sport rules that South African Oscar Pistorius is eligible to race against able-bodied athletes, overturning a ban by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
From the Associated Press
8:52 AM PDT, May 16, 2008
LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius won his appeal today and can compete for a place in the Beijing Olympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that the 21-year-old South African is eligible to race against able-bodied athletes, overturning a ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
CAS said the unanimous ruling goes into effect immediately.
"I am ecstatic," Pistorius told reporters in Milan, Italy. "When I found out, I cried. It is a battle that has been going on for far too long. It's a great day for sport. I think this day is going to go down in history for the equality of disabled people."
Pistorius still must reach a qualifying time to run in the individual 400 meters at the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Games. However, he can be picked for the South African relay squad without qualifying. That relay squad has not yet qualified for the Olympics.
Pistorius appealed to CAS, world sport's highest tribunal, to overturn a Jan. 14 ruling by the IAAF that banned him from competing. The IAAF said his carbon fiber blades give him a mechanical advantage.
A two-day hearing was held before a panel of three arbitrators at CAS headquarters last month. Pistorius now is expected to get invitations from track and field promoters across the world who want him to run at their meets before Beijing.
Pistorius said he will be running in both able-bodied and Paralympic events before Beijing. His manager, Peet van Zyl, said the runner will compete in Milan on July 2 and the Golden Gala meet in Rome on July 11.
"Oscar will be welcomed wherever he competes this summer," IAAF president Lamine Diack said in a statement. "He is an inspirational man and we look forward to admiring his achievements in the future."
Pistorius holds the 400-meter Paralympic world record of 46.56 seconds, but that time is outside the Olympic qualifying standard of 45.55. His training has been disrupted by the appeal process.
Even if Pistorius fails to get the qualifying time, South African selectors could add the University of Pretoria student to the Olympic 1,600-meter relay squad.
Pistorius would not require a qualifying time and could be taken to Beijing as an alternate. Six runners can be picked for the relay squad. Pistorius also expects to compete in Beijing at the Sept. 6-17 Paralympic Games.
The verdict also clears Pistorius to dedicate himself to competing at the 2012 London Olympics.
"A lot of the time we've had this year we've devoted to the court case," Pistorius said. "Now when I get home, my time can be dedicated to training. I am going to have to start thinking about getting my body in shape in order to run those (qualifying) times. I am hopeful there will be enough time but it is going to be very difficult.
"We have the opportunity once again to chase my dream of participating in an Olympics, if not in 2008 then in 2012."
The IAAF based its January decision on studies by German professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who said the J-shaped "Cheetah" blades were energy efficient.
Pistorius' lawyers countered with independent tests conducted by a team led by MIT professor Hugh M. Herr that claimed to show he doesn't gain any advantage over able-bodied runners.
CAS said the IAAF failed to prove that Pistorius' running blades give him an advantage.
"The panel was not persuaded that there was sufficient evidence of any metabolic advantage in favor of a double-amputee using the Cheetah Flex-Foot," CAS said. "Furthermore, the CAS panel has considered that the IAAF did not prove that the biomechanical effects of using this particular prosthetic device gives Oscar Pistorius an advantage over other athletes not using the device."
Pistorius was born without fibulas -- the long, thin outer bone between the knee and ankle -- and was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee.
Pistorius' lawyer was thrilled by the verdict.
"He simply has the chance now to compete fairly and equally," Jeffrey Kessler told The Associated Press. "We are particularly pleased that the decision is unanimous." |
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Weezy
Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Posts: 21550
Location: Anaheim, CA
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| Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Last I saw this was on E60 and he was appealing because they weren't going to let him compete. I think it's great that he'll be allowed to compete now. I don't think he has an unfair advantage because as pointed out by some on that show if those artificial legs gave you an advantage why is he the only one that uses them that is good enough to compete? Why isn't every guy with no legs out there in the olympics because of these artificial legs? I think it's the man that put in the hard work that got him there, not the device.
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The LeBrons
Joined: 05 Nov 2006
Posts: 3239
Location: ~~~~Los Angeles~~~~
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| Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, he should.
Simply put, legs>any type of prosthetic.
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escobar8
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Posts: 3905
Location: Croatia
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| Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 4:24 am Post subject: |
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i was just reading about him in the papers...
it was great story and i think he should go to china if he qualified...
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blakeruns
Joined: 20 Mar 2007
Posts: 5904
Location: Huntington Beach & Honolulu
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| Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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its a nice story, but i dont think he should be allowed to compete in the olympics
it sounds strange to say a double amputee has an "unfair advantage" over 100% people
but he is not going to have to deal with fatigue in his calves or ankles, foot muscles. his lower legs wont succumb to lactic acid. and a study done at a sports medicine place, returned results that the cheetah or w/e is prosthetic devices are called, return something like 93% efficiency of the energy put into them, whereas the most well trained ankles return about 89% ( dont quote me on those numbers, but im pretty sure that was it)
ya, itd be a great, feel good human interest story. but its not a level playing field.
and like i said, as odd as it is to say a man with no lower legs has the benefit, but in my view, he does.
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