CAS clears 'Blade Runner' for Beijing 2008

A statement released by the IAAF today stated:
 
The IAAF is pleased to announce that the Court of Arbitration for Sport ("CAS") this afternoon has declared that Oscar Pistorius (RSA) is eligible to compete in competitions under IAAF Rules.

The decision is a culmination of a process in which Mr Pistorius and the IAAF have co-operated together to resolve the issue of whether the "Cheetah" prostheses Mr Pistorius wears give him an advantage in competition.

While the IAAF has been keen to give Mr Pistorius every opportunity to participate in its events, it had to deal with some concerns that he may be gaining an unfair advantage.

As a result, in November 2007, Mr Pistorius and the IAAF voluntarily engaged in a process of testing under the auspices of Professor Brüggemann at the Sportshochschule in Cologne. Professor Brüggemann provided his report in December 2007.

Following this report, the IAAF Council took the decision that, because Professor Brüggemann had found that the prostheses gave Mr Pistorius an advantage, he was not eligible to compete.

Mr Pistorius referred the matter to CAS where further expert advice was obtained and reviewed. The hearing before CAS was conducted in an open, constructive and co-operative fashion with all parties keen to establish the truth.

The CAS Panel has today delivered its decision. It has decided that, at the moment, not enough is known scientifically to be able to prove that Mr Pistorius obtains an advantage from the use of the prostheses. Consequently, it has cleared him to run.
 
IAAF President Lamine Diack has made the following comment: "The IAAF accepts the decision of CAS and Oscar will be welcomed wherever he competes this summer. He is an inspirational man and we look forward to admiring his achievements in the future.”