Pistorius can run where he likes in relay

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s double amputee Oscar Pistorius will not be forced to lead off in the Olympic 4x400 metres relay, the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) told Reuters on Wednesday.Pistorius, who wears carbon fibre blades and was cleared to compete against able-bodied athletes by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2008, was named in South Africa’s relay team last week.South African media reported that the IAAF would not allow Pistorius to run in anything but the first leg due to concerns over the safety of other athletes because of his prosthetics and the rough and tumble nature of relay changeovers.An IAAF spokesman said the position had not changed since the world championships in Daegu last August.“At the Daegu 2011 IAAF world championships the decision for Oscar Pistorius to run the opening leg of the 4X400 relay was taken by ASA (Athletics South Africa) and not by the IAAF,” he said via email.“Now it will be the same for the Olympic Games. The decision will be taken by Athletics South Africa. It was always like this.”This, however, seemed to contradict what IAAF head Lamine Diack said last year. “This person is a particular case,” Diack said at the Daegu championships.“The only thing we said to the South African federation is that if he wants to run in the relay, he must run the first leg to avoid danger to other athletes.”South Africa’s Olympic chief Gideon Sam said on Wednesday that they will not seek an IAAF ruling over the matter.Sam, president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), told Reuters it was up to the relay team and coaching staff to decide where Pistorius runs.“”We won’t give in to any outside interference over where Oscar is allowed to run, that would amount to discrimination,” Sam said.“The debate over whether he gets an advantage from his blades is over and, like any relay team, be it athletics or swimming, it is now up to the team to decide where he runs.”