World athletics, the international athletics federation, announced this Friday the prohibition of the use of prototypes of shoes in competition, following the controversy born from a model of Nike which allowed to beat several records on road these last months. "As of April 30, 2020, any shoe must be available for purchase by any athlete on the market (online or in store) for a period of four months, before it can be used in competition," said the proceeding in a press release.
World athletics also specifies its regulations on the technical characteristics of the shoes (size of the sole, number of plates added to the sole) and indicates that a panel will examine any new technology before validating it in competition. The debate over new shoes has been raging since the appearance on the market of the “Vaporfly” from Nike, with a carbon blade in the sole and air cushions.
The Alphafly model banned
Several athletes, wearing these models of the American equipment manufacturer, have established in recent weeks records or outstanding performances. This model (Vaporfly Next), marketed for several months, and which allowed the Kenyan Brigid Kosgei to beat the world record for the Paula Radcliffe marathon (2h14min 04 sec), is not prohibited and could be worn at the Olympic Games from Tokyo in August.
On the other hand, the prototype of Vaporfly baptized "Alphafly", used by the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge to break in October the symbolic barrier of 2 hours on marathon (1h59min 40 sec during an unofficial race), will not be authorized because using three carbon blades in its sole.