Oscar Pistorius has set his sights on the Beijing Olympics after he claimed a new scientific investigation has produced "completely different" results to those that saw him banned by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

The 21-year-old South African double amputee sprinter was told last month by the IAAF, after consideration of the findings of a two-day independent study, that he could not compete because the artificial legs he uses give him an unfair advantage.

Pistorius, who as an 11-month-old baby had both of his legs amputated below the knee due to a congenital disorder, last month launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the IAAF's ruling with the decision due on March 25.

Howeverm, the IAAF's ruling prompted the 21-year-old to undergo fresh tests in the USA and Germany and the results have restored Pistorius's hopes of running in this summer's Olympics.

"We've done tests last week in Houston, they re-did the tests they did in Germany and the results were completely different," he said. "We're very optimistic. I'm really excited for the outcome. I am still hoping that I can make the cut-off to qualify for the Olympic Games but time is tight and I only have until mid-June I think and I haven't had any able-bodied races."

Pistorius was banned after tests by Professor Peter Bruggemann, at the German Sports University, Cologne, who found that his blades gave him a "considerable advantage", adding that they allowed the athlete "to run with his prosthetic blades at the same speed as the able-bodied sprinters with about 25 per cent less energy expenditure."

However, Elio Locatelli, the IAAF official who organised the testing, insists the way Pistorius finishes his races is "impossible."

"I was a little suspicious about him in the 400m because he was finishing very quick." Locatelli said. "A 400m runner cannot run the second part of the race faster than the first. It is quite impossible. From the 200m to the 300m and 400m, he can be compared to the world record holder."