Oscar Pistorius Can Still Be an Olympian Despite Homicide Conviction
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Jemal Countess/Getty Images(PRETORIA, South Africa) — Sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who was convicted of culpable homicide after a marathon trial, is still eligible to represent South Africa in the Olympics and the paralympics, officials from both sports bodies have ruled.
The only catch may be whether Pistorius is in prison at the time of the competitions, they said.
Pistorius, 27, has won six gold medals in three Paralympic Games. The next games would be held in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pistorius was such a powerful runner on his prosthetics that he was dubbed the Blade Runner and won the right to compete in the regular Olympics as well.
He was convicted earlier this month for the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2012 and a sentencing hearing will begin on Oct. 13. His sentence possibilities range from a maximum of 15 years to a fine and a suspended sentence.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) said the conviction will not prevent Pistorius from competing.
“Dependent on the verdict delivered by the judge in South Africa, if Pistorius is found guilty of cuplable homicide, once he has served that sentence he would be free to compete at IPC events,” IPC spokesperson Craig Spence said Friday prior to the verdict.
Pistorius is not looking ahead to racing yet, his spokeswoman told ABC News.
“There is absolutely no talk about competing at this stage. It would be premature and inappropriate to talk about, or even think about, returning to the track, until the sentencing is behind us,” spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess said.
An aide said Pistorius is only training at a gym at the moment and has not spent any time on the track since his trial started in March.
In another blow for the man dubbed the Blade Runner, the world’s largest athletic shoe and apparel maker, Nike, terminated its endorsement contract with Pistorius after suspending it in February last year.
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