EL PASO, Texas -- A footwear company sued two governing bodies of track and field Monday, contending its running shoes were banned because of technological innovations.
Spira Footwear filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the International Association of Athletics Federations and USA Track & Field.
The El Paso company alleges that rules banning assisted devices, including springs, violate federal restraint of trade and antitrust laws.
Spira Footwear said it believes the rules constitute a ban on shoes using its patented WaveSpring technology. No specific action has been taken by the IAAF and USATF against Spira Footwear by the two federations.
The lawsuit contends the rules prevent Spira from gaining acceptance in the marketplace because most elite runners won't wear the shoes for fear of disqualification.
USATF was unaware of the lawsuit and had no further comment, spokeswoman Jill Geer said. The company said seven runners will be wearing its shoes at the Boston Marathon on April 16.
