Why does Oscar Pistorius have the IAAF running scared?

[JAMiAM]

A double (leg) amputee tries to get qualified for the Beijing Olympics but the IAAF is afraid that he is too fast for the field. What do you think? Should he be allowed to compete?

Link to video news story.

[freeboy]

and then? lets have turbo wheel chaiars too!

[Zap]

I don't think he should.
His legs are mechanical. He can't experience muscle cramps, or jam his toe. His replacement legs will never feel fatigue. So it seems an unfair advantage.

[Hertston]

You have to feel sorry for the guy, but I agree.  I don't think it's so much Pistorius that's the 'problem', though, as the precedent.  If Pistorius' prothestics don't make him faster than other athletes maybe the next guy's will?  Best to draw a line in the sand now.

[JudgeDredd]

I feel for him also.

But it's about fair play and competition...no enhancements and that includes drugs. The Blade Runner is in fact enhanced. You simply can't do it. I understand his ambition, but I also understand the IAAFs position...and they have to protect the legitimacy of having non-disabled people (for want of a better phrase) in the Olympics. The Paralympics were designed to help disabled people (again for want of a better phrase) have a competition.

Unfortunately for him, he fits into neither category of being legitimate for normal olympics or the Paralympics and I do feel for him....but the rights of Olympians to have a fair and "unenhanced" competition shuld be kept.

[freeboy]

ok, lets do the suped up, anything goes, drugs and artificial parts olympics... that is one we might watch

[JAMiAM]

So, then by the majority position here, we should outlaw running shoes for athletes, as well? After all, they are a significant enhancement over bare feet. If we are going to enforce a natural, unenhanced rule, shouldn't these artificial "prosthetics" be banned from competition?

All joking aside, as a compromise, I think that the IAAF should allow Oscar to compete, but not allow him to qualify for any medals that he might otherwise win in the competition. I think it would do the field good, to be racing against a guy that is "crippled"...

[martxyz]

I think the IAAF made the right decision, though I think you make a pretty valid point JAMiAM in the sense that the Paralympics do seem to get rated as a sort of 2nd grade olympics, which can't be right. I also think it's a terrible shame that because of some reprehensible behaviour by at least one country some years ago, that there shouldn't be at least some paralympic events that are open to peope with severe learning disabilties. Without getting too soppy about it, we are after all one human family, each with our own gifts and difficulties.

I know this is a minor subject shift, but the prostehetics used by Oscar are also available, in a different form, for able-bodied people and I am led to believe that they make for seriously cool transport and fun! [:)]

[Bill Durrant]

Well I guess not many of you know cricket but for those that do I think this should apply to Mutiah Mulitharran (sp?). Such a shame he has overtaken Warnies wicket taking record - and that is coming from a Pom!

[Terminus]

I don't particularly feel for the guy; if there's one thing I've learned, it's that disabled people don't want to be pitied. As for his exclusion, I can see where they're coming from...

[Zap]

ORIGINAL: JAMiAM

So, then by the majority position here, we should outlaw running shoes for athletes, as well? After all, they are a significant enhancement over bare feet. If we are going to enforce a natural, unenhanced rule, shouldn't these artificial "prosthetics" be banned from competition?

All joking aside, as a compromise, I think that the IAAF should allow Oscar to compete, but not allow him to qualify for any medals that he might otherwise win in the competition. I think it would do the field good, to be racing against a guy that is "crippled"...

Why outlaw running shoes? They all wear them so no unfair advantage there.

Joking aside he should accept the fact that he can not fit in either olympics; find himself and agent and start making commercials or get into films or make the TV show circuit. He shouls take advantage of his rare position in life.