Paris (AFP)

The panel of experts set up by the International Athletics Federation to look into the case of Nike's "Vaporfly" shoes, which have broken several records in recent months, should make its recommendations by the end of January, we learned Thursday from the body.

"The panel (made up of officials, athletes, doctors, scientists and legal experts, editor's note) is still under deliberation but we hope to be able to make an announcement by the end of the month," said the official. AFP a spokesperson for World Athletics, adding that any rule change must then be approved by the Council of the International Federation.

Rumors of a possible future ban on these models in competition jumped 2.52% on Thursday the action of Asics, Japanese competitor of Nike on the running market, on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Adidas title, on the other hand, did not move much on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (+ 0.22%).

The debate over new shoes has been raging since the appearance on the market of the "Vaporfly" from Nike, with a carbon blade in the sole and air cushions. Several athletes, wearing these models of the American equipment manufacturer, have established in recent weeks records or outstanding performances.

On October 12, the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, marathon world record holder, completed the 42.195 km in 1 h 59 min 40 sec thanks to a new prototype of "Vaporfly" (three carbon blades in the sole and four air cushions ), breaking the symbolic bar of two hours on the queen distance from the back, in an unlicensed race where everything had been set up for performance.

The day after this feat, her compatriot Brigid Kosgei broke the world record for the marathon of Paula Radcliffe (2 h 14 min 04) with the same sneakers on their feet, in their version marketed since 2017 (only one carbon blade in the sole ).

Questioned by the Telegraph, Eliud Kipchoge opposed a change in regulations concerning these shoes.

"Technology is developing and we can't deny it, we have to go with technology," he said. In Formula 1, Pirelli delivers tires to all cars but Mercedes is the best. the person running, not the shoe. It's the person driving, not the one making the tires. "

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