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Tuesday, Feb 19, 2013 2:31 PM UTC

Paralympics refocuses on future without Pistorius

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Paralympics refocuses on future without PistoriusOlympian Oscar Pistorius, foreground, stands following his bail hearing, as his brother Carl, centre, and father Henke, right, look on, in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. Pistorius fired into the door of a small bathroom where his girlfriend was cowering after a shouting match on Valentine's Day, hitting her three times, a South African prosecutor said Tuesday as he charged the sports icon with premeditated murder. The magistrate ruled that Pistorius faces the harshest bail requirements available in South African law. He did not elaborate before a break was called in the session. (AP Photo-Masi Losi-Pretoria News) SOUTH AFRICA OUT (Credit: AP)

LONDON (AP) — The head of the Paralympics is in a state of “disbelief” about the murder charge against Oscar Pistorius, but is trying to reassure his organization that is has a strong future without its star athlete.

Pistorius last year became the first double amputee sprinter to compete at the Olympics, and helped to generate unprecedented interest in the subsequent Paralympics in London.

As Pistorius was appearing in court Tuesday in South Africa, International Paralympic Committee President Philip Craven expressed his “shock and disbelief” at the runner’s sudden downfall.

Craven told The Associated Press he is writing to IPC members urging them to “respect and observe” the legal processes while refocusing on “the way forward.”

Craven insists “we’ve got so many stars coming through that this will not be an issue.”

More By Rob Harris.

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