Bannister Says Blacks Possess Anatomical Sprinting Advantages

Roger Bannister, saying he was “prepared to risk political incorrectness,” said Wednesday that black sprinters have “certain natural anatomical advantages” over their white rivals.

Bannister, who in 1954 became the first person to break the 4-minute mile, said it was possible that black athletes’ muscles were better adapted to hot climates and therefore better at providing energy quickly.

He also suggested they could have better power-to-weight ratio because they have less fatty tissue under the skin. Bannister, a 66-year-old retired neurologist gave no evidence to back up his position.

Bannister, a speaker at a conference of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, noted the vast number of all-black sprint finals and a high proportion of black athletes in other events at the recent world championships.