Apple and Nike may think the upcoming London Marathon is the perfect promotion for their musical exercise gadgets. However, the global body behind marathons is considering banning audio players in case runners hurt themselves whilst changing lanes tracks.

The IAAF Road Running Commission is the world’s governing body for marathons and it plans to meet this September to discuss the controversial issue of musical-assisted running. So, London’s marathon runners may be safe for this year's event, but the body still believes portable audio players pose a hazard to individual runners, or those around them.

Related stories

• Japan to tax MP3 players
• Americans offered smart footwear
• Sony touts 'world’s first' digital noise cancellation cans
• Apple to revamp iPod as personal fitness trainer
• Nike readies alternative to own iPod workout kit
• Adidas coaches Samsung on phone design
• Nintendo works out UK Wii Fit price
• Japanese joggers to get exercise earphones with attitude

North America has a separate marathon governing body, USA Track and Field, which has already imposed the so-called ‘iPod ban’ for insurance reasons. It found that costs rise significantly if runners wear audio players or devices with wired headphones.

However, the London Marathon’s race director, David Bedford, recently told The Guardian that a similar law would be “completely unenforceable” in the UK.

Banning any form of portable audio gadget from marathons could be overstretching the mark though. Runners could just wear knee and elbow pads instead, with rear-view mirrors attached to their heads to ensure they can still cut-up other runners without causing a pile-up.