Oscar Pistorius has won the right to again compete against able-bodied athletes and now faces another battle to qualify for this summer's Olympic Games.
Pistorius overturned an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) ban, imposed following claims his prosthetic legs offered him a mechanical advantage, after he won his appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The CAS panel ruled that on the basis of the information brought by experts called by both parties there was sufficient evidence of any metabolic advantage in favour of the double amputee using the Cheetah Flex-Foot.
Pistorius' legal team used test findings which concluded prosthetics do not give him an unfair advantage.
That was accepted by the tribunal which cleared the way for the 21-year-old South African and 2004 Paralympic 200 metres gold medallist, to pursue a lifetime ambition of competing at the Olympic Games.
"I am thrilled with the Panel's findings," said Pistorius, speaking in Milan after CAS announced its adjudication.
"I hope that it silences many of the crazy theories that have been circulating in recent months about my having an unfair advantage.
"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."
Pistorius, who hopes to race over 400 metres at the Beijing Olympics, added: "Now I can definitely say the truth has come out.
"I have the opportunity once again to chase my dream of the Olympics if not 2008, in 2012.
"As you can imagine I have been struggling to hide my smile for the past half an hour."
The task for the 'Blade Runner' to make the South African team will not be easy because even in his best form, he is well short of the Olympic qualifying time which must be achieved by July 23.
Pistorius whose fastest 400m is 46.46 seconds, needs to run the Olympic 'A' standard of 45.55sec or the 'B' qualifier of 45.95sec, if no other athlete from his country attains the higher one.
It will be a tough target for the double amputee athlete who was born without fibulas and had to have his legs amputated below the knee when he was only 11 months old.
But even before the result of his tribunal was announced organisers of international events in both Great Britain and Italy said if it was successful, they were prepared to include him at their meetings.
Pistorius, who took up serious running four years ago, is almost certain to have many other offers made to him by other European promoters before the summer season gets into full swing next month.
That should offer several opportunities of achieving the Olympic standard.
The CAS members stressed in a statement that their decision only related to Pistorius, whose legal team from Dewey and LeBoeuf, successfully overturned the IAAF's finding.
It also stressed that any advancements in the prosthetic-limb technology used by Pistorius could be contested by the IAAF again.
However IAAF president Lamine Diack accepted the CAS decision and said the world governing body was pleased to announce that Pistorius is eligible to compete in competitions under its rules.
Diack, said: "The IAAF accepts the decision of CAS and Oscar will be welcomed wherever he competes this summer.
"He is an inspirational man and we look forward to admiring his achievements in the future."
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