Wayde van Niekerk is to compete at the Diamond League athletics meet in London next month, organisers said.
Apart from a couple of low-key meets in Bloemfontein early this year, Van Niekerk hasn't raced at a top level since injuring a knee in a game of touch rugby at Newlands in 2017.
He last competed at the 2017 world championships at the Olympic stadium in London, the site of the Anniversary Games to be held on the weekend of July 20 and 21.
The men's 400m is provisionally scheduled for July 21.
Van Niekerk, who will turn 27 six days before, posted the world's fastest 400m times in 2015 (43.48sec), 2016 (43.03) and 2017 (43.62).
But on his return to the track he will face a new rival in 21-year-old American Michael Norman, the fastest in 2018 (43.61) and the world No1 so far in 2019 (43.45).
It is not yet known if Van Niekerk will race before London.
Rio Olympic champion Van Niekerk is looking to win his third consecutive 400m world championship in Doha from September 28 to October 6.
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