Statement by Ossur Regarding Bilateral Amputee Oscar Pistorius' Bid to Participate in IAAF-Sanctioned Events, and

Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:07pm EST
 
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  REYKJAVIK, ICELAND, Jan 11 (MARKET WIRE) -- 
 Ossur has reviewed the test results and expects the IAAF to allow Oscar
Pistorius to compete because we are confident that the prostheses he is
using, which we make, do not give him a technical advantage over
able-bodied runners. Any other ruling on the part of the IAAF would only raise
the question, "are we not ready to have amputees on the Olympic stage?"

    Specifically, the breadth of the testing commissioned by the IAAF was
incomplete and inconclusive insofar as determining with any certainty whether
Mr.
Pistorius' prostheses are giving him an unfair advantage. We hold Professor
Bruggemann's clinical expertise with Olympic athletes in high regard.
However, upon review of his findings, we have determined that there are
aspects of his results that demand further investigation and require
consensus among experts familiar with athletics and the amputee sprinter.

    Thirty years of experience in the research and testing of prosthetic limb
technology have taught us that the prosthesis is what makes amputees whole and
able to engage in activities such as walking and running. Amputees also view
themselves as whole-bodied when wearing their prosthesis. To test a
prosthesis separately as a component, and not as a completely integrated part of
the
amputee's body, generates data that is technically incomplete and flawed.
Unfortunately, the IAAF took this approach.

    Importantly, the technology used in Mr. Pistorius' Cheetah Flex-Foot
prosthetic
feet has existed since 1997, and has not experienced any significant updates
since that time. Scores of amputee athletes have used the very same product to
compete at an international level of sport over the years. Some have come
close to able-bodied world record times, but what we have in Mr. Pistorius is
an extraordinary athlete: one that has taken technology that has existed for
over a decade and pushed it to its very limit.

    In light of this, we feel strongly that any judgment against Mr. Pistorius
at this
stage and based on insufficient information, would be irresponsible and unfair,
and
that he should be allowed to participate at IAAF-sanctioned events -- as long as
his
times qualify him to do so.

    The past few years have been enlightened and remarkable times for active
amputees who have worked so hard and overcome so many challenges to at
lastexperience the opportunity to compete alongside able-bodied athletes. It
would be unfortunate and regrettable to take such a giant step backwards when we
are presented with this occasion to partner with the IAAF and show the world
how equal we all truly are.

    OSSUR

    Ossur (ICEX: OSSR) is as much about helping people to live a life without
limitations as it is about its orthopaedic products. A trusted and global leader
in the development, manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing of bracing
and
support products and prosthetics, Ossur pioneers award-winning designs --
including its Bionic Technology platform -- and partners with the health
practitioners who use them to deliver successful clinical and business outcomes.
Headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, the company has operations and a
distribution network throughout the world. The company allocates an industry
record of 6-8 percent of its revenue on research and development to conceive
and harness the most advanced technologies for incorporation in its product
designs, and provides extensive education programs through the Ossur Academy.
Ossur is a 2006 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer. Website: www.ossur.com

    Image Available: here

Image Available: here


Ossur Americas:
Tabi King
Marketing Director
858-775-2573
Email Contact

Public Relations for Ossur:
Beverly Millson
Missing Sock Public Relations
(310) 399-7599
cell: (310) 804-3469
Email Contact

Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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