Pistorius Can Compete in Olympics, Is Writing Book

Well, he can compete as long as he's not in jail
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 15, 2014 1:00 PM CDT
Pistorius Can Compete in Olympics, Is Writing Book
In this Sunday, Aug. 5, 2014 file photo South Africa's Oscar Pistorius starts in the men's 400-meter semifinal during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

Things are really looking up for Oscar Pistorius: Now that he's been been found guilty only of culpable homicide, not murder, in the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, the South African Olympic committee says he can still represent the country in the Games, so long as doing so wouldn't violate the sentence he'll receive next month. "As he stands right now, he's free (to compete)" if he qualifies, an official tells the AP, because there is no rule against someone with a criminal record participating. Of course, if he goes to prison, he wouldn't be able to compete, nor would he if he's sentenced to house arrest. But the judge could also give him a fine and a suspended sentence, which would allow him to compete.

Pistorius' agent says that no decision has yet been made, and that they'll "sit down and take stock" after he's sentenced. But before Steenkamp's death, Pistorius and his coach had said they both wanted to retire at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. One thing is clear: Pistorius will be writing a book about Steenkamp's death and his trial, his agent told the Guardian this weekend. "He will write his own book," the agent says. "We've discussed it. We've talked about ideas and concepts. I'm not going to go into details now." (More Oscar Pistorius stories.)

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