Pistorius reaches compromise

MONACO – South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius drew a line under the sand yesterday in his battle with athletics governing body the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The two parties agreed to co-operate on future research over the carbon fibre blades attached to both his legs below the knee and ascertain if they give him an unfair advantage. The IAAF had previously ruled that the blades are an unfair advantage but yesterday’s announcement means that he has been given a stay of execution – he has already run twice against able-bodied athletes, running second in the 400m ‘B’ race in Rome and then was last and subsequently disqualified in Sheffield earlier this month.However his bid to compete in the world championships in Osaka next month looks doomed both in terms of a qualifying time and that the research cannot begin till October at the earliest.Nampa-ReutersThe IAAF had previously ruled that the blades are an unfair advantage but yesterday’s announcement means that he has been given a stay of execution – he has already run twice against able-bodied athletes, running second in the 400m ‘B’ race in Rome and then was last and subsequently disqualified in Sheffield earlier this month.However his bid to compete in the world championships in Osaka next month looks doomed both in terms of a qualifying time and that the research cannot begin till October at the earliest.Nampa-Reuters