Amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius wins Olympics appeal

Disabled South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who is a double amputee, has won an appeal to compete to participate in the Beijing Olympics.

The athletics' governing body the IAAF had ruled in January that Pistorius could not take part in able-bodied contests and it claimed that his prosthetic limbs would give him an unfair advantage.

Oscar Pistorius, 21, disagreed and complained to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Pistorius said: "My focus throughout this appeal has been to ensure that disabled athletes be given the chance to compete and compete fairly with able-bodied athletes. I look forward to continuing my quest to qualify for the Olympics."

Pistorius was born without fibulas and was just 11 months old when his legs were amputated below the knee.

Oscar Pistorius started running professionally four years ago and nine months later he won the 200m at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens before going on to set world records in the 100m, 200m and 400m in Paralympic events.

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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 May 2008 )

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