• Dominant footwear will be allowed by World Athletics• No fresh technologies to be permitted until after Tokyo 2020
![Controversial Nike Vaporflys to escape ban but running shoe rules will tighten](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/4f86317137dcdbfedfeec0a57dc17c1f2a812a0f/0_340_6000_3600/master/6000.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=ac9253868510365b88a4ecc1283ac1dc)
World Athletics will not be imposing a blanket ban on the controversial hi-tech Nike Vaporflys that have transformed athletics when it announces its long-awaited decision on shoe technology on Friday, the Guardian understands.
Instead the sport’s governing body is expected to announce a temporary suspension of any new shoe technology until after the Tokyo Olympics this summer, alongside the launch of a comprehensive research project to examine just how advantageous the shoes, and others like it from rival brands, are at elite level.