Olympic sprinting gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross wants South African double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius banned from competing for life. The trouble is that the South African Olympic and Paralympic committees are powerless to stop him.
That's why those committees likely are hoping that Judge Thokozile Masipa takes the possibility of a Pistorius return out of his hands.
Pistorius is awaiting sentencing on a culpable homicide charge that ranges from a fine and a suspended to 15 years in prison. Masipa will announce the sentencing on Oct. 13.
TMZ Sports caught up with Richards-Ross, a four-time gold medalist - she won the 2012 Olympics 400-meters and was part of three gold medal 4x400 relay teams in 2004, '08 and '12 for Team USA - and asked her whether the International Paralympics Committee should allow Pistorius to compete in the next Paralympics.
"At the end of the day, there was a woman that ended up dead," Richards-Ross told TMZ Sports. "I don't think he should have the privilege of competing in the sport anymore."
But according to The Associated Press, all Pistorius has to do is qualify through competition. Legally, the IPC cannot deny Pistorius' right to compete.
But the IPC isn't exactly plotting a marketing campaign behind Pistorius' return, either.
"There has never been any intention to promote any reinstatement of any sort," International Paralympics Committee President Philip Craven told The AP.
Richards-Ross hopes she never again sees the 27-year-old Pistorius in a race in the Paralympics or Olympics, which she told TMZ Sports was difficult for her to say because she said she used to be good friends with Pistorius.
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