The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have no plans at the moment to take action following reports in the South African media that anabolic steroids have been found at the home of Oscar Pistorius, where he allegedly murdered girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day.
Reports have been published today that police have found the banned performance-enhancing drugs during their search of Pistorius’ home.
It has been claimed that the discovery brings about the possibility that Pistorius, 26, had the short-term mental condition “roid rage” – a side-effect of high doses of the outlawed drugs that causes huge tempers – when he allegedly murdered his 29-year-old girlfriend.
Evidence of heavy drinking is also mentioned in the reports.
But, the IPC have claimed they will take no action over the reports until they are substainted.
Pistorius returned negative tests at the London 2012 Paralympics, where he won two gold medals and a silver, the IPC confirmed today.
“It is purely speculation at the moment and it is a police matter involving a criminal case, so we will not be contacting the South African police,” said IPC head of communications Craig Spence. “What we can reveal, however, is that Oscar Pistorius was tested twice in London; once out of competition on August 25 and once during competition on September 8. The tests were negative.”
The 26-year-old six-time Paralympic champion allegedly shot Steenkamp four times in the head and body through a locked bathroom door last Thursday (February 14) at his high-security home in the Silver Lakes complex in Pretoria.
Pistorius was subsequently charged of one count of premeditated murder at Pretoria Magistrates’ Court the following day, but the case has been adjourned to tomorrow as more evidence is gathered.
Pistorius, who became the first double-leg amputee to compete at the Olympic Games at London 2012, is also likely to have been tested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS).
SAIDS have followed the IPC and referred to the reports as speculation.
“SAIDS will not issue a comment pertaining to the Oscar Pistorius case,” said a spokesperson. “The case is in the criminal prosecutions domain and any information is mere speculation. We will cooperate with anything requested by the law enforcement prosecution or defense authorities if they require information from us.”
Reports also suggest that a blood-stained cricket bat was found at the Pistorius, but details should become clearer when his court case resumes tomorrow.
Contact the writer of this story at tom.degun@insidethegames.biz. Inside the Games is an online blog of the Organizing Committee for the 2012 London Olympics. Its editors continue to cover the world of Olympic sports. This article is reprinted here with permission from the editors.