Nike Vaporflys allowed in Tokyo Olympics – but World Athletics bans Eliud Kipchoge’s marathon Alphaflys

The shoes have garnered controversy as a series of world records in long-distance running have tumbled over the past few years

The controversial Nike Vaporfly will be allowed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but a World Athletics ruling has effectively banned the prototype Alphfly shoe until further testing is carried out. 

The shoes have garnered controversy as a series of world records in long-distance running have tumbled over the past few years. Most famously, Eliud Kipchoge run the first sub-two hour marathon last October wearing the Nike Alphafly, although the feat was not an officially ratified record. 

The Vaporfly, which is available on the market for £240, and it’s follow-up the ZoomX Vaporfly Next% give athletes up to 4 per cent increased metabolic efficiency, according to Nike, using a carbon-fibre plate embedded in a cushioned sole to effectively propel a runner forwards and reduce lost energy with each stride. 

The Alphafly is the bespoke version worn by Kipchoge in his marathon feat, with an even thicker sole containing three carbon-fibre plates and two layers of ‘cushioning pods’ at the front. 

In a new ruling on Friday intended to clarify the rules, World Athletics temporarily suspended any shoe with more than one “embedded plate or blade”, and stipulated that shoes could only be worn in competition having been on the general market for at least four months, effectively banning ‘prototype’ shoes from being worn in race conditions.

In a statement, World Athletics said: “With immediate effect there will be an indefinite moratorium on any shoe (whether with or without spikes) that does not meet the following requirements:

• The sole must be no thicker than 40mm.
• The shoe must not contain more than one rigid embedded plate or blade (of any material) that runs either the full length or only part of the length of the shoe. The plate may be in more than one part but those parts must be located sequentially in one plane (not stacked or in parallel) and must not overlap.
• For a shoe with spikes, an additional plate (to the plate mentioned above) or other mechanism is permitted, but only for the purpose of attaching the spikes to the sole, and the sole must be no thicker than 30mm.

“The competition referee will have the power to request that an athlete immediately provide their shoes for inspection at the conclusion of a race if the referee has a reasonable suspicion that the shoes worn by an athlete do not comply with the rules.”

A series of major races stretching back to the Rio Olympics in 2016 have been dominated by athletes wearing versions of the Vaporfly, or rivals’ copycat shoes like those designed by Adidas which also feature a carbon plate. 

While they have drawn criticism and accusations of “mechanical doping”, Kipchoge has led a staunch defence of the evolution of footwear. “Technology is growing and we can’t deny it,” Kipchoge said. “In Formula 1, Pirelli issues the tyres to all the cars but Mercedes are the best one. Why? It’s the engine. It’s the person. So for those that are against the shoe, it’s the person who is running, not the shoe. It’s the person driving, not the person making the tyres.”

A new working group will now be established, comprising biomechanics specialists and in consultation with shoe manufacturers, to undertake research on the benefits of the various shoes on the market and to assess any new technology moving forwards. 

World Athletics president Seb Coe said: “It is not our job to regulate the entire sports shoe market but it is our duty to preserve the integrity of elite competition by ensuring that the shoes worn by elite athletes in competition do not offer any unfair assistance or advantage. As we enter the Olympic year, we don’t believe we can rule out shoes that have been generally available for a considerable period of time, but we can draw a line by prohibiting the use of shoes that go further than what is currently on the market while we investigate further.

“I believe these new rules strike the right balance by offering certainty to athletes and manufacturers as they prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while addressing the concerns that have been raised about shoe technology. If further evidence becomes available that indicates we need to tighten up these rules, we reserve the right to do that to protect our sport.”