Blade Runner Banned from Olympics

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Jaire

They are not whining because he has fake legs, they are whining because it is essentially cheating. A more visual form of drug taking if you will. It is performance enhancing and illegal.

Why was it irrelevant? I think the point is that everyone has advantages and handicaps. Many drugs that are legal help you. As I mentioned, high altitude training will alter you blood chemistry, but it is legal. A sports manufacturer can make you special running shoes that legally improve your performance. Legal does not equal fair.

It has got to the stage now where avoidance and manipulation of the rules are more important than just doing your physical best.

[Locksmith]

I think the inclusion of drug taking as a comparator is confusing the issue. The reason taking certain drugs is banned is because their use can cause illness and death. If they didn't, they would probably be permitted.

I slightly disagree with you Dave. The issue here, as I see it, is fairness. Unlike say, high altitude training or better trainers, which any athlete can have, most athletes will be unable to have their legs cut off at the knees and replaced with special springs. Accordingly, he has an unfair advantage (around 25% more efficient) which other athletes cannot replicate.

[Aegon the Unworthy]

I just want to add that regardless of the pace this man sets as compared to Olympic level athletes, he should still be banned.

Even if his times are off the pace, this sets a precendent for the next guy to apply to run. His times may be a different story.

That being said, this guy is tremendous...I absolutely love dedication like this. Theres no reason he cant run in exhibition events against world class athletes....theres literally dozens of those out there.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by Dave

Why was it irrelevant? I think the point is that everyone has advantages and handicaps. Many drugs that are legal help you. As I mentioned, high altitude training will alter you blood chemistry, but it is legal. A sports manufacturer can make you special running shoes that legally improve your performance. Legal does not equal fair.

It has got to the stage now where avoidance and manipulation of the rules are more important than just doing your physical best.

High altitude training is a method to become better, it is not cheating.

You have to train hard for it to do you any good.

I dont see that running shoes and high altitude training is even comparable to blades that makes you better than others.

Unlike the other things you mentioned its cheating, its unfair to others which is why he was banned.

Its the principle, he should be banned as much as the ones that dope and cheat to win.

[Overread]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

Its the principle, he should be banned as much as the ones that dope and cheat to win.

That is perhapse a little harsh. A person that does dope to cheat and win is setting out cheat from the start. This person is not setting out to cheat, but to compete. Unfortunatly for him his determination, dedication and scuess has led to the development of his blades - which have now led to his enhancement of his skills - namly the 25%boost.
Now I said it before, he should be allowed to compete if he changes his blades - removing the 25% bonus so that he is not gaining an advantage over the other competators - which is also something he is not out to do

[Cayal]

Originally Posted by Dave

Why was it irrelevant?

because it had nothing to do with the issue at hand.

As I mentioned, high altitude training will alter you blood chemistry, but it is legal. A sports manufacturer can make you special running shoes that legally improve your performance. Legal does not equal fair.

They have a choice to do high altitude training or wear those shoes. It is available to anyone. And the shoes still have to pass restrictions placed.

Not everyone is able to 'wear' those blades.

It has got to the stage now where avoidance and manipulation of the rules are more important than just doing your physical best.

That is your opinion.

[Dave]

I do agree that the issue is one of fairness, and I don't think it's fair to ban him. He hasn't tried to cheat, he just wants to do his best. He just wants to run against the top athletes, and no one can even say if he would win. I agree with Overead's solution, he should alter the blades to remove the advantage. I expect that if he loses his appeal that is exactly what he will do.

[Cayal]

Intention doesn't matter. If he has a performance enhancing drug/tool he can't run.

[Quokka]

I can't see them allowing him to compete with altered blades, I think at least some of the concern here is not so much Oscar's pace now but where technology may lead to in the future. He doesn't simply want to run, what he wanted was to enter a professional sport. All professional sports have rules (even the UFC had rules from day one there's just alot more of them now) and unfortunately his blades are outside the rules regardless of their advantage which I'm guessing in regards to his running are well outweighed by the disadvantages.

As the rules stand I think he has to be banned, maybe that's unfair to him but to let him run would also be unfair to the person's place he would take who applied to run within the rules.

[asher marquering]

would they allow him to run if his blades were made heavier?

[Locksmith]

I still come back to the case of Daniel Sadler, which I posted above. He was an able bodied athlete who wanted to compete in wheelchair races and was banned. Given the sorts of rationalisation we have discussed above - i.e. someone having an unfair advantage - it's difficult to justify that decision. He got no advantage in wheelchair racing from being able bodied.

[YuYus dumber Brother]

So he uses 25% less energy. And the fact that he has 50% less legs than the able bodied athletes? Normal athletes run with their legs pumping up and down. But Blades here has to swing his legs outwards quite a bit more than the normal athletes.
Please remember this. He knows he will not win. His pace is way too far from the front runners. All he wants is to run with the top dogs and represent his country. He didn't ask for his legs to be stumps. He just makes the best of what he has.

[flygin]

So his times aren't close to the top runners anyway, and that is even with his using 25% less energy, and blades that are designed specifically for running. If his blades are altered, it sounds like he wouldn't even qualify for the olympics.

[mosaix]

He clearly has an advantage not brought about by training, therefore the ban seems fair.

Suppose he had asked to go in for the high jump, or the long jump, or the triple jump? In events like these it would be so obvious that the blades store energy just as a spring does. In running it's less obvious but still an advantage.

[Manarion]

Originally Posted by mosaix

He clearly has an advantage not brought about by training, therefore the ban seems fair.

Suppose he had asked to go in for the high jump, or the long jump, or the triple jump? In events like these it would be so obvious that the blades store energy just as a spring does. In running it's less obvious but still an advantage.

So what do you suggest he do? Go into Olympic swimming?

I'd say this isn't very fair to him. Like has already been posted, his times are nowhere near the top runners, so I can't really see the issue with him having the so-called advantage.