NIKE BLOW
THE Nike Vaporfly running trainers worn by Eliud Kipchoge for the fastest-ever marathon are set to be banned.
Kenyan Kipchoge donned a prototype, hybrid version of the controversial shoe when he ran the first sub-two-hour marathon in Vienna last year.
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The run was under controlled conditions and therefore has not been recognised as an official time.
Kipchoge's compatriot Brigid Kosgei wore the Vaporfly trainers as she smashed Paula Radcliffe's women's world record in October.
Kosgei completed the Chicago Marathon in 2hr 14min 4sec - taking 81 seconds off Radcliffe's record from the 2003 London Marathon - but it is now at risk of being scrapped.
The problem with the Vaporfly shoes is in the soles, which feature foam and carbon fibre to increase the spring and therefore are thought to help runners push off with every step.
As reported, a moratorium is being considered by World Athletics, which may see records stand despite the likely incoming ban for the shoes.
New rules to place a limit on the thickness of soles and the use of carbon plates are on course to be introduced.
The current regulations state an shoes must be "reasonably available" to everyone and not give runners an "unfair advantage".
'SURPRISINGLY EFFORTLESS'
Amateur runners have used the Vaporfly trainers - which cost £239.95 on the Nike UK website - and have generally praised the shoes for their considerable benefits.
Writing a review on the Nike website, one wrote: "I was one of the many who immediately purchased this shoe for my marathon race, hoping for any edge to qualify for Boston.
"I ran CIM marathon yesterday in these shoes and achieved a 9.45 per cent improvement on my time from last year and credit these shoes for a large chunk of that improvement.
"The marathon felt surprisingly effortless and easy with these shoes. Thank you Nike for an amazing technological innovation that helped me achieve me goals this year."
Another said: "I heard that these shoes make you run faster and they definitely don't disappoint! They are very bouncy, they make me run at least 30 seconds per mile quicker than what I normally would do."
Latest athletics news
World Athletics are also looking into banning revolutionary running spikes for sprinters.
The new design being developed is thought to have caused fears that the world's fastest men could threaten Usain Bolt's 9.58sec 100m world record at this summer's Olympics in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, the trainers worn by Laura Muir as she set the British record for the women's indoor mile are also on course to be outlawed.
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Eliud Kipchoge becomes first person to run a marathon in sub two hours