Chapter 390: Research Report
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Stanford University. Professor Biden"s Office.
"Professor, I"d like to entrust you with our research needs." As Stephen spoke, he pa.s.sed a check to Biden. "As such, I"m willing to provide your research lab with a sum of research funds."
Biden took the check and glanced at the 20,000 dollars written on it, then he asked, "Mr. Stephen, may I know what topic you want me to research?"
"When running, which is more advantageous, the legs of a healthy individual or a prosthesis?" Stephen said.
"A prosthesis? The type the "blade warrior" uses?" Professor Biden checked.
Stephen nodded and said, "Yes, that"s the one. I"ve brought along some data related to the Flex-Foot Cheetah prosthesis, provided by a prosthesis manufacturer in Iceland. If there is a need, I can even arrange for Phillip to come and cooperate in your research."
"Are you serious?" Biden looked shocked. "No matter how high tech a prosthesis is, it is ultimately still a prosthesis. How could it be better than our naturally grown legs? Is there really a need to specifically research this topic? This is an unneeded expenditure for you."
As Biden said so conscientiously, he made a gesture to return the check to Stephen.
However, Stephen raised his palms to reject the check. "Professor Biden, what you said just now, that the prosthesis is not as good as our legs, is exactly the conclusion I desire. Even truths have to be proven by scientists, right? As a scientist, your job is to confirm the truth. What do you think?"
Biden suddenly understood what Stephen meant.
"Alright, no problem. I thank you for your generosity, and I will produce the relevant research report as soon as possible. I believe the research result that I come to will be the one you want to see." Biden placed the check inside his pocket as he spoke, then reached his right hand towards Stephen with a bright smile on his face.
As he sent Stephen off, Biden"s grin did not recede.
Proving the leg of a human is better than a sports prosthesis, these 20,000 dollars sure came easy!
Stephen did not only approach Stanford University"s Professor Biden, but he had also contacted Harvard University"s Professor Horton and Oxford University"s Professor Wesley. A research fee of 20,000 dollars to prove that the human leg is better than a prosthesis. For the professors, it was like being handed free money. In fact, they didn"t even need to personally do anything. They could just ask any of the PhD"s under them to do something, and in about half a day"s time, a perfect research report would be prepared.
At moments like these, the scientists also fully demonstrated their professional ethics; since they"d taken the money, they would have to produce a research report with results that their sponsor wanted to see.
...
Monaco, the headquarters of the International a.s.sociation of Athletics Federation.
The major business matters of the International a.s.sociation of Athletics Federation were decided by the council. The council consisted of 27 members, including one president, four vice presidents, one treasurer, six representatives from the a.s.sociations of athletics of the major continents, and 15 council members.
At that moment, the council members were discussing Barron Phillip.
A council member with a head full of white hair said, "We"ve read through all the clauses, and there is nothing that prohibits a disabled person from partic.i.p.ating in the world champions.h.i.+p."
"What about the prosthesis? Is there any clear rules regarding this?" a person on the side asked.
"Our rules on sports equipment is too general. For the prosthesis that Phillip uses, there are no specific limitations," the white-haired council member said.
"How is this happening? When formulating the rules, weren"t we supposed to consider the effects of high tech equipment on compet.i.tion fairness? If, in the future, an athlete equips a rocket propeller on his shoes, should we also let him partic.i.p.ate!" an Indian council member said.
The oldest member of the council coughed and said, "Regarding this, let me explain. When we formulated these rules, we were faced with pressure from several sports brands. You should all know that high tech sports equipment is produced by all the major sports brands. And we can"t organize these compet.i.tions without their sponsors.h.i.+p. If we became too detailed in these sort of rules, we would remove them as a source of income, and they would stop sponsoring our races."
"Alright, let"s stop talking about this. There is no way we can prohibit Phillip from partic.i.p.ating by using the law, we can only do it through other methods. It is better if we return to the problem we"ve discussed previously, his prosthesis!" a female council member said.
"But didn"t we discuss it just now? Our rules on sports equipment are too general," the Indian council member said.
"But we can expect that when Phillip wears the prosthesis in a compet.i.tion, he will gain advantages that would affect compet.i.tion fairness," the female council member said while laughing.
"That is actually a good idea! To protect the fairness of the compet.i.tion. It is a good reason. We could use this to prevent Phillip from partic.i.p.ating in the world champions.h.i.+p," everyone agreed.
"But if the public asks how we ascertained that wearing a prosthesis would affect compet.i.tion fairness, how should we answer them?" someone asked immediately.
"That is why we need to do some extra work, or perhaps also some additional expenditure," the female council member answered.
"What do you mean?" The Indian council member clearly did not understand what she was trying to convey.
The female council member continued, "We of the International a.s.sociation of Athletics Federation only suspect Phillip"s prosthesis would affect compet.i.tion fairness, but the specifics have to be ascertained by experts and specialists. We would then only make the final decision based on the conclusions made by these experts and specialists."
"I know Professor Brugman from the University of Cologne, he"s an authority on kinetics; we can entrust him with the research! I believe Professor Brugman will tell us that Phillip"s prosthesis would bring him additional benefits during a race," the oldest council member said profoundly.
"Alright, you go and contact this Professor Brugman. See how much research funding he needs. I will arrange for our financial team to allocate the funds." The host of the meeting, who was also the president of the International a.s.sociation of Athletics Federation finally spoke.
"Everyone, I don"t think there"s a need anymore!" One of the vice presidents suddenly spoke. "I"ve just read a report. That "blade warrior" already made the pre-emptive strike. Apparently, there was an interview with Phillip"s agent, where he said that he had three individual reports from Professor Biden from Stanford University, Professor Horton from Harvard University, and Professor Wesley from Oxford University. All these reports came to the same conclusion, which is that Phillip"s blade-like prosthesis is no match for the legs of a normal person, and that there was no way Phillip could gain more advantage than a normal person from the prosthesis!"
"What does this mean?" the Indian council member asked again.
"That means there"s no need to go to Professor Brugman from the University of Cologne anymore!" the president said. "We were one step behind them. We have only just thought of what to do, but not only have they already done it, they"ve already published the results! And they found three scientists."
"So what? They found three, we can find 30!" the Indian council member replied in anger.
"And then what, turn this into a scientific debate? That"s meaningless! You would never be able to talk sense with these scientists. These scientists always make incomprehensible arguments, so how would that help with public opinion?"
The vice president shook his head and said, "Besides, by then, the media would ask why the IAAF used the report of the University of Cologne and not Oxford University. How should we answer then? Unless you want us to stupidly say that the University of Cologne is more reliable than Oxford University?"
"Then what should we do? Should we let Phillip take part in the world champions.h.i.+p? Something like this has never happened in the World Champions.h.i.+p in Athletics before!" another council member asked in a panic.
The vice president did not answer. It was as if he did not hear the question. He only leaned back into his chair with a calm demeanor.
At that moment, n.o.body was willing to say that they would allow Phillip to partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion. No one wanted to bear the responsibility.
However, everyone seated within the room knew that in this battle, the International a.s.sociation of Athletics Federation had already fallen to a disadvantaged position.