The "fastest man on no legs" had his request to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics declined, because his carbon-fibre prosthetics allegedly give him an unfair advantage.

Oscar Pistorius, a South African double amputee and Paralympic world record holder, recently saw his dream to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics shattered by the International Association of Athletics Foundation.

Pistorius, dubbed the "fastest man on no legs," was told by the federation that his artificial legs are a technical aid, which are banned in the Olympics, and that they give him an unfair advantage over other sprinters.

Pistorius, also dubbed the "blade runner" because of his J-shaped, blade-footed prosthetics, feels as though he was unfairly victimized because of his condition. He recently conducted a series of tests with a professor in Houston, Texas which contradict the findings of the IAAF, tests which he said in an interview with the Associated Press give him reason to be cheerful once again, "I am very optimistic as to the results, they were very positive."

The IAAF's findings were based on tests conducted by German Professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann. The findings caused the IAAF to officially announce that Pistorius is not allowed to compete because his J-shaped blades apparently enable him to run longer and faster than other athletes with minimal fatigue.

Pistorius, at his fastest, has never come within a few seconds of a world record track time. He, on average, runs not fast enough to qualify for most track events, a statistic that has many still looking for the unfair advantage the IAAF claims he possesses.

Ryerson University sports enthusiast Jean Kennedy believes that the IAAF should allow Pistorius to compete, "It's unfair. I mean he isn't breaking any records, he probably won't win any medals but he wants to compete and they should let him do that. He's trying to prove something and he should be able to do so. He deserves it."

Pistorius' dream is simple; he wishes not to win a medal, but merely to have the chance to compete and prove that amputees and other disabled athletes should garner more attention on the world stage. The Paralympics are in place for disabled athletes, however, they do not receive nearly as much media attention as the Summer Olympics, arguably the largest and most prestigious athletic competition on the planet.

Pistorius was born without fibulas, and has been looking for the right prosthetic for years until finally settling on his current carbon-fibres. His disability has required him to overcome countless obstacles in his life and he counts this one as not different from any other, "I'm going to keep fighting," he told the Associated Press.

Pistorius announced that he is going to appeal the decision made by the IAAF, and will submit the tests conducted in Houston as proof that he holds no unfair physical advantage. The only advantage he does hold over other athletes is an almost heroic desire to prove his worth.

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