Pistorius tribunal to start
South African ’Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius will challenge his Olympic ban at a Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal tribunal beginning in Lausanne on Tuesday.
Lawyers for the double amputee sprinter, who competed against able-bodied opponents in international meetings last year, will attempt to have the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruling imposed in January overturned.
The IAAF barred Pistorius from participating in Beijing and any other able-bodied athletics meeting, because his prosthetic legs were deemed an unfair advantage.
They reached that decision after studying the findings of a two-day independent scientific investigation held last November.
The world governing body believes there is “overwhelming scientific evidence” the 21-year-old’s ’Cheetah’ blades are technical aids and a clear contravention of IAAF rules.
The decision was made after the 2004 Paralympic 200metres champion volunteered to undertake independent scientific tests under the supervision of Professor Peter Bruggemann at the German Sport University of Cologne.
Pistorius lodged his appeal on February 13 and insists he is fighting the case not just for himself but other athletes who will be affected by the IAAF decision.
“This case is important not just to me, but to all disabled persons who just ask for the chance to compete fairly on the sporting field with able-bodied athletes,” said Pistorius.
His legal staff are expected to produce evidence of tests carried out by experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which indicate he does not gain any advantage.
The IAAF are contesting Pistorius’s appeal although for legal reasons it will not make any statement prior to the tribunal.
The tribunal is scheduled to finish on Wednesday at the latest and it is expected the result will be announced in the next few weeks.
