The 400-metre world record holder, Michael Johnson, believes disabled athletes who use prosthetic limbs should not be allowed to compete in able-bodied races, as it has not been disproved whether or not it provides them with an "unfair advantage".
The American, winner of Olympic gold medals in the 400m in 1996 and 2000, was talking specifically about Oscar Pistorius, the South African known as 'blade runner'.
While he stressed that he considers Pistorius, who has been allowed to compete at the London Games in the able-bodied 400m, as a friend, the Dallas-born sprinter revealed that he considers the principle of disabled competitors lining up alongside those without specially developed limbs flawed.
When asked whether he thought Pistorius's inclusion was political correctness gone mad or an inspiring human story, the 44-year-old said: "I think it is both. I know Oscar well, and he knows my position; my position is that because we don't know for sure whether he gets an advantage from the prosthetics that he wears it is unfair to the able-bodied competitors.
"I consider Oscar a friend of mine, but he knows I am against him running, because this is not about Oscar; it's not about him as an individual, it is about the rules you will make and put in place for the sport which will apply to anyone, and not just Oscar."