Optimistic Oscar awaits ruling

2008-05-16 13:53

Geneva - Double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius was set to find out Friday if his dream of competing at the Beijing Olympics is back on track.

The 21-year-old South African, who runs on prosthetic blades, was awaiting a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be released in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Pistorius appealed to CAS, world sport's highest tribunal, to overturn a ruling by the IAAF which banned him from competing against able-bodied runners. The International Association of Athletics Federations said his carbon fibre blades gave him a mechanical advantage.

A two-day hearing was held before a panel of three arbitrators at CAS headquarters last month.

Pistorius' American lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler, said early Friday that the 400m runner was optimistic.

"We believe we made a very strong showing and are hopeful about a favourable verdict," Kessler said in an e-mail from California.

Qualifying time

"Oscar is one of the finest young men I have ever met and I will continue to be inspired by him regardless of the outcome."

Even if the CAS panel rules for Pistorius, he would still have to reach a qualifying time and be picked to represent South Africa at the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.

Pistorius holds the 400m Paralympic world record of 46.56 seconds, but that time is outside the Olympic qualifying standard of 45.55. His training has also been disrupted by the appeal process.

If Pistorius is ruled eligible, one option for South African selectors would be to add the University of Pretoria student to the Olympic 1 600m 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.

A positive verdict from CAS would clear Pistorius to dedicate himself to competing at the 2012 London Olympics.

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 which claimed to show he doesn't gain any advantage over able-bodied runners.

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.

- AP