CONTINUATION......South Africa's Pistorius cancels race appearances after murder charge

Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius has cancelled all his scheduled track appearances in the next few months, to allow him to concentrate on defending himself against a murder charge. Pistorius is charged with murder of his girl friend in his native South Africa, his agent said.
The athlete, known worldwide as the ``Blade Runner’’ for his prosthetic legs, was formally accused last week of the premeditated shooting of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The charge could put him behind bars for life, if he is convicted.
``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,’’ his agent, Peet van Zyl, said in a statement released late on Sunday.
The cancelled races include two appearances in Australia and one in Brazil in March, one in the U.S. in April and one in Britain in May.
Van Zyl, who visited Pistorius on Sunday at the Pretoria police station where he is being held, said the athlete's sponsors were sticking with him, pending the outcome of his 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 said.