Oscar Pistorius Still to Be Handed a Sentence, Still Can Race
Oscar Pistorius, whose full name Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius, is a South African sprint runner who is known for competing in able-bodied international running competions with both his legs amputated. Pistorius had been acquitted of murdering his girlfriend over a year ago but the case had been closed since, with the verdict standing as not guilty of murder but guilty of culpable homicide.
In February of 2013, Pistorius shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and was acquitted of murder in the subsequent trial. While the Olympian acknowledges the fact that he indeed shot his girlfriend, he says that he had done so after mistaking her for a possible intruder.
After the trial, it was unclear on whether Pistorius' career as an Olympic marathon sprinter would continue - or at least the Paralympics leadership would allow him to. Still, he is still to face sentencing for his charges, which could range from a suspended sentence and a fine, to as much as 15 years in prison.
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Even so, if Pistorius is in a position to compete in any races before his sentencing, the International Paralympic Committee wouldn't be able to do anything to stop him from returning to the track as the "Blade Runner."
"If that athlete was entered and had gained the qualification we would not be a legal situation where we could deny that athlete the right to compete," the IPC President Philip Craven said. "There has never been any intention to promote any reinstatement of any sort," he added.
