PRETORIA, South Africa — Oscar Pistorius could compete at this year’s world championships after a South African judge eased his bail restrictions and ruled yesterday that the athlete, who faces a murder trial for the shooting death of his girlfriend, can travel overseas to race.
The international athletics body said that if Pistorius qualifies, it had no objections to him running — an event that could eclipse the stir last year when he became the first double amputee to compete at the Olympics.
In response, Pistorius’ agent, Peet van Zyl, said that the world championships in Moscow in August could be a possibility if the so-called “Blade Runner” wants to return to the track on his carbon-fiber blades.
Judge Bert Bam upheld the Olympic athlete’s appeal against some of his bail restrictions but said the 26-year-old Pistorius must travel under certain conditions. The athlete could face a life sentence if found guilty of murder for the Valentine’s Day shooting death of Reeva Steenkamp.
His passport will be held by a court while he is in South Africa, and he can leave the country only if he provides an itinerary of his travel plans at least a week before.
Pistorius must also hand his travel documents back to the court within 24 hours of returning, Bam ruled.
Pistorius says he killed Steenkamp accidentally, fearing there was an intruder in his house.
Prosecutors say he shot the model and reality TV star intentionally after they argued.