ATHLETICS:CLAIMS THAT Oscar Pistorius enjoys an unfair advantage over able-bodied athletes have been disputed by the scientist who helped him overturn his Olympic ban.

The South African sprinter will compete at the World Championships for the first time later this month after posting a personal best this season that could see him challenge for a medal in the 400 metres.

Pistorius, a double amputee, was banned from competing in global able-bodied championships by the IAAF in 2008 when it was ruled his carbon fibre blades gave him an advantage.

However, his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was upheld three months later and he would have been eligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics had he achieved the qualifying time.

The debate has resurfaced because of Pistorius’ qualification for the World Championships in Daegu, with South African sports scientist Dr Ross Tucker saying this week his inclusion was “a complete farce”.

That has now been countered by Hugh Herr, head of the biomechatronics research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab who helped Pistorius with his appeal three years ago. Herr, himself a double amputee, believes there is prejudice against Pistorius now he is challenging at the top level.

He said: “The conclusion of the CAS hearing was that there was insufficient evidence to support the hypothesis that Pistorius had an overall advantage in the 400 metres. Perhaps there is some level of negative bias that exists in today’s society.

“When people look at Oscar Pistorius, they see he has an unusual body. That’s fine when he’s not competitive but, when he’s being competitive, it becomes threatening.”

Herr also dismissed Dr Tucker’s claims that advances in the technology of Pistorius’ blades were akin to developments in Formula One, arguing he has been racing on the same prosthetics for seven years.