Why debate on revolutionary running shoes is not ending soon

Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya, white vest, wearing Nike AlphaFly prototype running shoe, and his pacemaking team, wearing pink Nike Vaporfly shoes, run during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge attempt to run a sub two-hour marathon in Vienna, Austria (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File)

In 2020, Australian long distance running legend Rob de Castella sparked debate when he called for the ban of Vaporfly shoes.

His reason? The shoe designed for record-breaking tempo was giving some athletes an undue advantage.

New shoes, observers say, are produced for a simple assignment; to aid the tumbling of records.