SALVO, North Carolina, Jan 17 (Reuters) - World sprint champion Tyson Gay said on Thursday he would have no problem racing South African double amputee Oscar Pistorius, who has been barred from the Beijing Olympics and other international races by the sport’s world governing body.
“If they (Pistorius and other other paralympic athletes) want to go out there and compete just like we do and put their heart in to it, I see no problem with it whatsoever,” Gay said during a teleconference announcing his selection as U.S. Olympic Committee sportsman of the year.
“It would be great,” Gay, the world 100 and 200 metres champion, said . “I think he would be motivating a lot of other people.”
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ruled on Monday that Pistorius, who runs with carbon fibre blades attached to his legs, should not be allowed to compete internationally against able-bodied runners.
The decision came after a report commissioned by the world governing body concluded the prosthetics used by Pistorius gave him a significant advantage.
Gay said later to Reuters he was aware of the IAAF decision and was speaking only about the idea of paralympics running against able-bodied runners in general.
But Gay said he personally would be willing to race Pistorius, who plans to appeal the IAAF decision.
“It would be up to him,” Gay said. “I don’t really go out looking for a competitive race, but if he is happy being in a race with me, I think it would be great.”
The American sprinter said he first saw Pistorius run when the South African competed against world champion Jeremy Wariner and other able-bodied runners in a 400 metres race in Sheffield, England, in 2007.
Pistorius was disqualified for running outside of his lane after trailing in last on the wet track.
“I didn’t see anything wrong with it,” Gay said of the race. “I thought it was good for the sport.” (Editing by Miles Evans)