AP
Oscar Pistorius' track career has been put on hold indefinitely because of his murder charge, reinforcing the possibility that the double-amputee Olympian might never run again competitively on his famous carbon fibre blades.
Pistorius' agent was forced to cancel all future races, he said, so Pistorius could concentrate on defending himself against allegations he murdered his model girlfriend by shooting her several times in his upscale house on Valentine's Day morning.
Reeva Steenkamp died from gunshot wounds suffered inside Pistorius' home in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday. Pistorius was arrested and charged with her murder the same day. His family denies he murdered her.
"I have decided that following these tragic events that we have no option but to cancel all future races that Oscar Pistorius had been contracted to compete in," agent Peet van Zyl said in a written statement late on Sunday night.
Pistorius had been contracted to compete in races in Australia, Brazil, Britain and the United States between March and May.
The Olympic and Paralympic runner was to be the star attraction of the Australian athletics season, scheduled to run in Sydney and Perth next month.
Van Zyl visited his athlete at a police station in Pretoria where Pistorius has been since Friday, following the shocking developments at his villa in a gated community in Pretoria's eastern suburbs where Steenkamp was shot dead.
Her death and Pistorius' arrest stunned South Africans, who revered Pistorius for his humble nature and success at overcoming adversity to become an international star, despite having his lower legs amputated as a baby.
Pistorius still had "overwhelming support" from his fans, Van Zyl said as he left the police station, but the agent steered away from a question from a reporter on what Pistorius' emotional state was now like following the death of his girlfriend and a possible realisation that his entire career was in ruins.
Pistorius' sponsors - including big-name brands Nike and eye wear manufacturer Oakley - were also sticking by him, Van Zyl said. But that could depend on the outcome of a possibly lengthy murder trial.
"Regarding sponsors and partners, I can confirm that at this point in time, all parties are supportive and their contractual commitments are maintained," Van Zyl's In Site Athlete Management company said. "They have said they are happy to let the legal process takes its course before making any change in their position."
Pistorius was quickly arrested and charged with murder Thursday, with prosecutors saying at his first court appearance a day later that they would pursue a more serious premeditated murder charge, which carries a life sentence.
Pistorius broke down and wept in the court, with his face in his hands. His family later denied he murdered Steenkamp and said the state's own evidence "strongly refutes" any possibility of a murder.
"I am not going to comment on anything except that (what) is related to his athletics career at this point in time," Van Zyl told reporters outside the police station after being asked how Pistorius was coping. "Obviously from a management side and also as a friend, it's a tragic circumstance and events that have unfolded and we can only give Oscar our support at this point in time."
Family members and his lawyers also visited Pistorius on Sunday, but declined comment both when they arrived and when they left.
The family of Steenkamp, a model, law graduate and budding reality TV star, told The Associated Press that her body had been released by police after an autopsy and was back in their hometown of Port Elizabeth on South Africa's southern coast.
They also said Steenkamp's funeral would be held Tuesday and would be a private ceremony for family at a local crematorium. Media would not be allowed in.
Pistorius was the first amputee athlete to run at the world championships in 2011, then made history when he competed at last year's Olympics in London.
He and his coach have both said that they aimed to retire from track after the Rio Games, but one of the world's most famous athletes, who fought for years to be allowed to run against able-bodied competitors, is now facing the possibility he will never go to any major meet again.
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