Spira Footwear protests over shoe ban
US footwear brand Spira Footwear has launched a protest over what it feels is an unfair and unjust rule by the governing bodies of Track and Field - the International Amateur Athletic Federation and USA Track and Field. Both the IAAF and USATF have adopted a rule that bans springs in footwear, including Spira's WaveSpring technology, in competition.
According to IAAF and USATF rule 143(3)(a), "A competitor may compete in bare feet or with footwear on one or both feet. The purpose of shoes is to give protection and stability to the feet and a firm grip of the ground. Such shoes, however, must not be constructed so as to give the competitor an additional assistance and no spring or device of any kind may be incorporated in the shoe."
As part of its protest the company is offering a $1 million prize to any male or female runner who can win the 2006 Boston Marathon in a banned pair of Spira Footwear and is even developing a special lightweight running shoe just for the marathon.
