Athletics Pistorius faces ban

Study reveals blades give Paralympian unfair advantage

Last updated: 20th December 2007

<b>Athletics</b> Pistorius faces ban

Pistorius: Unfair advantage

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Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius appears set to lose his fight to compete alongside able-bodied athletes in the Olympics.

A scientific analysis of the 21-year-old South African's prosthetic limbs have revealed they give him an unfair advantage.

Professor Peter Bruggemann, the man in charge of the research being carried out by the IAAF, believes the limbs offer assistance and added that the results were 'conclusive'.

Bruggemann told Die Welt newspaper: "He has a considerable advantage compared with athletes without prosthetic limbs who have undergone the same tests.

"The difference is several percentage points, and I did not think the findings would be so conclusive."

The IAAF received Bruggemann's report on Tuesday but at present do not plan to discuss its contents, or make any public announcement, until January 10.

Pistorius' dreams of competing in next year's Beijing Games hinge on the IAAF giving him the all-clear to race against able-bodied opponents.