Athletics: Pistorius to run in Christchurch

Oscar Pistorius competes at the 2008 Paralypic Games. Photo / Getty Images

South African multiple world record holder Oscar Pistorius will compete at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) athletics world championships in Christchurch in January.

Pistorius, 23, has confirmed his attendance in a large South African team, bringing a well-recognised figure to the championships from January 21-30.

The four-time Paralympic gold medallist, who is amputated below the knee of both his legs, made headlines when he tried to convince the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to let him compete against able-bodied athletes at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

The IAAF ruled him ineligible for competitions conducted under its rules, a decision later reversed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which decreed that the IAAF had not provided sufficient evidence to prove that Pistorius's prostheses give him an advantage over able-bodied athletes.

However, Pistorius then narrowly failed to qualify for the South African team to compete at the Beijing Games in his favoured 400m.

He is a world record holder over 100m, 200m and 400m in the T44 classification.

- NZPA