LAUSANNE, May 16: South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday that has given him an Olympic Games lifeline.

The disabled 21-year-old sprinter runs on specially adapted carbon fibre blades after having his legs amputated below the knee.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had banned the 400m runner from all competitions involving able-bodied athletes because of claims that the artificial legs he uses give him an unfair advantage.

However, CAS ruled Friday against the IAAF decision, adding: “.... it is revoked with immediate effect and the athlete is eligible to compete in IAAF events while wearing the Ossur Cheetah Flex Foot Prosthetics, as used in the scientific tests requested by the IAAF and presented as an exhibit at the CAS hearing.”

After CAS’s ruling Friday, Pistorius’ participation in the able-bodied events in Beijing will depend on him achieving the minimum Olympic qualifying time of 45.95sec, or 45.55 if another South African runs less than 45.95. Pistorius’ personal record is 46.46.—AFP