Double amputee Oscar Pistorius has the support of four-times world 400m champion, Michael Johnson to compete in the next week’s IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

“I’m 100% in support of Oscar,” said Johnson.

  “The rules state that he is able to compete and I’m all about the rules. So I fully support what he is doing and his goals.”

  Pistorius is unlikely to ruffle many feathers if he participates in the 4 x 400m relay after Athletics South Africa (ASA) confirmed he would run the first leg of the relay should he be part of the team.

  This means he would remain in the same lane for the complete lap, according to IAAF’s director of communications, Nick Davies, who said they were worried about a danger to other athletes should he change lanes during the race.

  “The IAAF have been told by ASA that they have decided to run Oscar in the first leg so we have no problems any more,” said Davies.

  Since qualifying in Italy in 45.07 seconds for the 400m race, the speculation over Pistorius’ advantage had been rekindled.

  Scientists had claimed his blades could give him as much as a 10 second advantage, but it was negated by his slow start from the blocks.

  In 2008, the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS) cleared Pistorius to compete against able-bodied athletes. It is on that basis that the Tukkies athlete lines up on Sunday morning for the first round of the 400m.

  “I’m currently ranked about 17th of 18th in the world, so I will be happy if I can make it through the quarterfinals,” said Pistorius in an interview with Johnson.

  “However if I do a good time and don’t make it through, I’ll also be happy.”

  Neither the research nor the court case considered the merits and demerits of competing in the 400m relay.

  The naming of Pistorius in the relay squad prompted fresh questions at IAAF level as to the safety and legality of his running in second or subsequent legs of the event.

  Recent articles have pointed to the momentum gained in the baton change, which could provide a significant advantage not considered in the original court case, while others were concerned about the safety of Pistorius and competing athletes once they are running out of lanes.

  Bumping and spiking are not unusual in the relay and the inclusion of Pistorius in anything but the first leg brought back memories of the infamous clash between Mary Decker Slaney and Zola Budd (Pieterse) in the 1984 Las Angeles Olympics.

  “I have run many relays, and have run in different legs (of the race), and I’ve never had any problems,” said Pistorius who confirmed that the South African relay squad had had little opportunity to practice since his qualification.

  “I know how I perform in the various legs and have a view on what would be the optimum arrangement (of runners) for the race.”

  Had South Africa not listed Pistorius for the first leg Davies said it would then have been discussed by the IAAF technical delegates “who have responsibility for the field of play.”

  However, the discussions between the IAAF and the South African team has yet to filter through to the athletes.

  “At this stage I don’t even know who will be running in the relay, it will depend on the outcome of the 400m and hurdles,” Pistorius said.

  “We haven’t determined the running order but the optimum order will be the order determined by the management as they are the technical experts.”

  The decision to run Pistorius in the first leg, will result in a slower time for the blade runner, but will also remove unnecessary pressure from the 24-year-old who will become the first amputee to compete in a World Championships on Sunday morning.

  Under the IAAF rules it is possible to change the order and team members in the relay as they progress through the competition.