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 Nicknamed "Blade Jumper", the 2012 Paralympics gold medalist and
2014 German long jump champion hopes to become the second athlete
with a carbon fiber running blade to compete in the Olympics after
South Africa's Oscar Pistorius in 2012.
But a new rule by the International Association of Athletics
Federations (IAAF) requires amputee competitors to prove their
prosthesis gives them no added advantage over other athletes.
Competition Rule 144.3(d) bans 'the use of any mechanical aid,
unless the athlete can establish on the balance of probabilities
that the use of such an aid would not provide him with an overall
competitive advantage over an athlete not using such aid.'
 In order to present his case to the IAAF, Rehm, who beat able-bodied
athletes with a jump of 8.10 meters at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix
in February, has asked for the criteria for this regulation but
still not received a reply.
"The IAAF is reviewing the testing that was conducted by our German
Member Federation DLV on Markus Rehm last year," an IAAF
spokesperson told Reuters.
"Upon review of those test results, the IAAF will consider what
criteria is required to be met ... in this particular case," the
official said without providing a specific date.
Rehm, who could not be reached immediately for a comment, has
already complained that the case was dragging on, putting his
chances of Olympic participation at risk.
But as things stand now, the 27-year-old, who lost his lower right
leg in a boating accident as a teenager, will not be picked for
Germany.
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"As to the current position regarding the Olympic Games in Rio, the
IAAF has again rechecked with our Member Federation DLV and with
respect to their actual legal situation Mr Markus Rehm will not be
nominated by the German DOSB to compete," the IAAF official said,
referring to the German Olympic Committee.
"That is a very specific answer from the people selecting Rehm for
the Games, which is the German DOSB, and is nothing to do with the
IAAF."
Rehm recently threatened legal action as a last resort if the IAAF
was seen as stalling.
"(Legal action) would be the last resort," he told reporters last
month. "But if I feel I am treated with a lack of respect and not
being taken seriously, then I would use that option."
The Rio Olympics begin on Aug. 5, with the long jump qualifying and
final competitions set for Aug. 12-13.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
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