American runner Leeper loses appeal to use prosthetic legs

GENEVA (AP) — An American runner who uses two prosthetic legs has lost an appeal in his bid to try to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. The Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld a decision by the governing body of track and field that had ruled Blake Leeper gets a competitive advantage against able-bodied runners because of the added height his prostheses give him. World Athletics says the ruling means Leeper cannot compete in top-level competitions. The 31-year-old Leeper was born with no legs below the knee. He can challenge the CAS ruling at the Swiss supreme court before the Tokyo Olympics open in July 2021.