'Blade Runner's' hopes in the balance

Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius' hopes of competing as an able-bodied athlete appeared to be in the balance.

Athletics' governing body, IAAF, are currently carrying out a full scientific analysis of the prosthetic limbs the 21-year-old South African uses, to see whether he gains an unfair advantage.

His chances of being cleared to race against the world's best at the Beijing Olympics next year appear to have been hit by comments from the man in charge of the research.

Professor Peter Bruggemann supervised the tests on the 'Blade Runner' at the German Sport University in Cologne - and he believes they do offer assistance.

'He has a considerable advantage compared with athletes without prosthetic limbs who have undergone the same tests,' Bruggemann told Die Welt newspaper.

'The difference is several percentage points, and I did not think the findings would be so conclusive.'

The IAAF yesterday received Bruggemann's report but at present do not plan to discuss its contents, or make any public announcement, until January 10.

Now Pistorius' dreams of competing in next year's Olympic Games in Beijing hinge on the IAAF giving him the all-clear to race against able-bodied opponents.