The ruling from the arbitration body which overruled the initial IAAF ban was very specific in stating that Pistorius could only compete on the blades he is using at the moment, and that any athlete looking to do the same thing would be judged individually. So they're well aware of the ''slippery slope'' of technology.
When I saw him today he definitely looked to be disadvantaged at the start
...and yet he's caught up by the end. He has a clear advantage over the closing stages. It was demonstrated in the initial test that he uses significantly less oxygen at maximal effort than able-bodied athletes. But due to the burden of proof, this demonstration wasn't enough for the IAAF's decision to be upheld.
IMO it's just not a level playing field. He doesn't have to train his calves to withstand fatigue or lactic build-up, because he doesn't have any. Maybe that sounds harsh but it's beside the point; what he's doing is just different.
On balance, is the fact that he is in the same races as able-bodied athletes and raising the profile of paralympic sport a good thing, and worth pissing off a few aggrieved 400m runners he beats along the way, or deprives of an Olympic qualification? Probably. He seems like a nice bloke, obviously works really hard - not necessarily any harder than the next elite athlete, mind - and is a great role model. It doesn't make the decision correct though.
Edited: 05/08/2012 at 09:48
