Germany's paralympic long-jump champion Markus Rehm still hopes to compete against able-bodied athletes at August's Olympic Games after a study published Monday said it was unclear whether his carbon-fibre prosthesis gave him an advantage.

The study, published by the German sports university in Cologne, has said it is "difficult, if not impossible" to determine whether paralympic athletes get an advantage over the able-bodied when they compete with a prosthesis.

The study, carried out in conjunction with institutes in Cologne, Colorado and Tokyo, found athletes with a running-specific prosthesis have a disadvantage in the run up, but gain a better technique for the long jump, leaving it open whether a false limb helps or hinders athletes.

"There was no clear advantage detected through those using a prothesis, so that makes me happy," said Rehm, who has been dubbed "blade jumper," and says his goal is to "bring together the Olympic and Paralympic sports."

Rehm hopes the study will now open discussions in the IAAF, the International Association of Athletics Federations, which could see him compete as an able-bodied athlete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, which run from August 5 to 21.

To compete in the Rio Games, Rehm must prove his prosthesis gives him no advantage over able-bodied athletes after the IAAF brought in a new rule in August 2015.

A decision is only expected to be made next month, at the earliest, at the next IAAF council meeting.

The 27-year-old German aims to be the second athlete with a prosthesis to compete at both the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games after South African runner ­Oscar Pistorius ran in the 400 and 4x400-meter relay at the 2012 London Games.