Nike's controversial Vaporfly shoe has been permitted for use in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics but the shoe Eliud Kipchoge wore to break the two-hour marathon record is banned.
World Athletics has temporarily updated its guidelines for sports shoes worn in competitive events ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July.
The new guidelines from the international governing body for athletics bans the trainer Eliud Kipchoge wore to break the two-hour marathon record.
Vaporfly meets new stipulations
However, Nike's Vaporfly range ? including the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% and the Zoom Vaporfly 4% ? meets the stipulations of World Athletics' amended Technical Rules. These prohibit shoes with soles that are thicker than 40 millimetres and the inclusion of more than one carbon-fibre plate, or similar item, in the sole.
The news comes amid criticism of the fairness of allowing athletes to compete while wearing the Vaporfly range, which have thick, foam soles and carbon-fibre plates to improve speed.
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