South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who was charged with murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp back in February, has been cleared by the world governing body for Paralympic sport to compete in the IPC World Championships in France this July, according to an internal report at the IPC acquired by the UK’s Telegraph Sport.
Pistorius’s agent Peet van Zyl will be notified that the six-time Paralympic gold medalist will be allowed to register after it was determined that he shouldn’t be barred from competing before his trial.
“I respect his wish to mourn Reeva’s death as long as it takes,” van Zyl told Telegraph Sport when presented with the news. “Only Oscar will be the one who decides when he wants to start training and race again, both [his coach] and myself respect the relationship we have as a trio.”
Many assumed the sprinter’s training had already started after photo of Pistorius walking on a high school track was published on the front page of the Afrikaans-language Beeld newspaper Thursday. But van Zyl said Pistorius was just out for a jog Tuesday after meeting with his agent and coach.
Although it seems his training will be coming pretty soon:
“This is not disrespectful to Reeva or her family,” van Zyl added. “This has been part of his life for so many years. If it makes things easier for him to work through it and get some sense back into his life, let him run and let him jog. He’s a human being and that’s maybe an outlet for him.”