Athletics: Double amputee Oscar Pistorius is today launching an appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport against the International Association of Athletics Federation's ruling that he cannot compete against able-bodied athletes.
The IAAF announced their decision last month after studying the findings of a two-day independent scientific investigation in November 2007.
The governing body said the South African's 'cheetah' blades were technical aids in clear contravention of IAAF rules and gave the athlete a "demonstrable mechanical advantage when compared to someone not using the blade", effectively banning him from competing against able-bodied athletes.
At the time of the ruling, Pistorius announced he would appeal and now he will dispute what he believes were flawed scientific findings in the IAAF's study to be supported by further testing.
Pistorius said: "I am filing this appeal not just for myself, but for all disabled athletes. We deserve a chance to compete at the highest levels if our bodies permit us to do so."
His lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, of international law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, said: "We are appealing on several different grounds.
"First of all we think the test that was done was inadequate and that actual competent testing by experts in the field will establish Oscar did not have an advantage.
"Technical expert evidence will show this."
Kessler added that he was challenging the process of the ruling saying: "Oscar did not have the chance to have expert comment.
"It was decided and he was just basically banned from competing without any fair opportunity (to respond)."
The firm are assembling a panel of experts who can prove that the blades do not give Pistorius an advantage and that the IAAF erred in accepting the tests as the sole reason for their decision.
Kessler also wants to act on behalf of disabled athletes everywhere "to give people the chance to compete to the best they can do".
To this end, Kessler and his team are working on a pro bono basis such is their belief in the importance of the case which they are hopeful will be quickly concluded enabling Pistorius to compete in Beijing should the outcome be positive.
Pistorius was 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee but only began running competitively on the carbon fibre blades four years ago against both able-bodied and disabled athletes.
He had immediate success winning the 200m at the Athens Paralympic Games and bronze in the 100m and also holds the Paralympic world records at both distances as well as the 400m.
Pistorius, nicknamed 'Blade Runner', finished second over 400metres in a B race at the IAAF Golden League meeting in Rome last summer and also lined up against Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner in Sheffield although he was disqualified for running outside his lane.