Pistorius is the world record holder in three Paralympic events

Double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius begins his appeal on Tuesday to find out if he can run at the Olympics.

In January, athletics' governing body the IAAF banned him from able-bodied events, claiming his prosthetic limbs give him an unfair advantage.

The 21-year-old South African has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

The hearing in Lausanne is set to last for two days with the result announced in the next few weeks.

Interview: Double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorious

The IAAF ruling in January was based on studies it commissioned by German professor Gert-Peter Brueggemann, who concluded that the prosthetic limbs gave Pistorius an unfair advantage because he uses 25% less energy than an able-bodied runner.

Pistorius disagrees and has subsequently undergone tests in the US in an attempt to prove his case.

"I am very appreciative of Cas for setting a schedule that will allow a decision in time for me to pursue my goal of qualifying for the Olympics," he said.

"This case is important not just to me, but to all disabled persons who just ask for the chance to compete fairly on the sporting field with able-bodied athletes."

"It's been a........READ MORE

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