STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/Getty ImagesOscar Pistorius has enough to worry about as he prepares to stand trial in the shooting death of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. But going back to work isn't one of them.
A judge in South Africa today has eased the embattled sprinter's bail conditions, allowing him to travel outside the country to international track meets so that he can continue to generate an income.
Per the The Telegraph, at a hearing in Pretoria's High Court, Judge Bert Bam cleared the 26-year-old Pistorius to go abroad for work under specific conditions. Those include alerting authorities a week before he plans to travel and providing an itinerary of his trip as well as returning his passport to the court within 24 hours of returning to South Africa.
"I find no reason why the applicant should be forbidden from leaving the Republic of South Africa if he's invited to compete in athletic events in other countries," Bam ruled.
Barry Roux, a lawyer for the Olympian and Paralympian known the world over as Blade Runner, said Pistorius did not have any desire to compete immediately abroad but noted he may do so in the future because running "is his only source of income."
The legal eagle previously objected to the double amputee's bail terms saying they were too restrictive, likening them to "house arrest," and insisting his client was not a flight risk despite prosecutors' contentions otherwise.
Pistorius' agent meanwhile was quoted in a published report as saying that with the travel ban relaxed, Oscar might consider competing at this year's World Championships being held in Moscow in August. That is, if he resumes his training.
Pistorius, who was forced last month to surrender his passport, also caught another break.
The judge allowed him to return to his posh Pretoria residence where Steenkamp was fatally shot and killed on Valentine's Day. Previous bond conditions forbade him from doing so as it was an active crime scene.
In the aftermath, prosecutors charged the track star with premeditated murder, believing he killed Steenkamp in cold blood. Pistorius however claims he mistook his ladylove for a burglar and, and asserting he thought Steenkamp was in the bed next to him, only opened fire because he feared for his life.
Pistorius, who did not attend today's proceeding, remains out on $113,000 bail. The next hearing in the case is set for June 4.