In an effort to better clarify and define responsibilities within its Athlete Classification Code, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the governing body of paralympic sport, published a revised version of their code following approval of its General Assembly last November.
The IPC cites more accessible language, definition of a monitoring role for the IPC, and clearer responsibilities for the International Federations in developing Code-compliant classification systems were among the list of improvements and changes within the November vote. At that time, IPC also revealed that intentional misrepresentation during the athlete evaluation process was ‘in grave danger of undermining the credibility of sport.
Just over 6 months into the application of this new Athlete Classification Code, Chief Medical Officer for the British Paralympic team during London 2012, Professor Nick Webborn, tells Inside the Games that “there are some very positive things happening” in terms of addressing the problem of intentional misrepresentation in para-sport.
“It’s more about what’s the impact of your impairment on your ability to do that sport rather than the old medical model of assessment,” says Webborn to Inside the Games. “But I do think it’s possible for people to kind of not show their full ability.”
Continued Webborn, “I also think it’s difficult sometimes that kids get permanent classifications and they change with growth spurts. You get a 14-year-old or 15-year-old boy and then he hits puberty and suddenly you get a great change in shape and muscle mass and so on, and I think you need to be cautious about the awarding of permanent classes.”
Webborn describes the sport of swimming as being particularly difficult in the classification system, as there are multiple impairment types existing within the same class.
“For example, you have someone who is paraplegic swimming against someone with cerebral palsy, against someone with other deficiencies, and saying that you’re all equally impaired with completely different types of impairment.
“That’s really the challenge I think for Para-sport because with that dividing line which has to come in, you can be world champion or a no hoper.”
should look at his own country first, and maybe visit the hotels the swimmers are staying in one night, no wheelchairs or crutches present but get to the pool and the disabilities are their for all to see
The IPC have to address IM seriously. At its worst, it isn’t just one or two athletes here and there, it is countries abusing the system for gold medals. Australia being one of the worst offenders.
Elliott, Patterson, Thomas-Kane, Watson
The IPC need to do something about this. They could start by employing someone with the guts to be firm. The Sydney 2000 saga (pre Gonzalez) was addressed within 6 months.
No they need to employ a neurologist who understands MRIs and reports!!!
What positive steps? The Paralympic Games begin in one month and nothing has been done to address the current athletes suspected of intentional misrepresentation (IM).
Intentional Misrepresentation
6.1 Each International Sport Federation must provide procedures on how to identify and
manage allegations of Intentional Misrepresentation in the International Sport
Federation’s Classification Rules.
In swimming the International Sport Federation is the IPC. Does anyone know if the IPC has provided the requisite procedures as required per their own Code? It looks like they have until Jan 2017 to comply or do they think they already comply? The problem I see with IM is that its very difficult to prove. How do you prove a medical report is fraudulent? A medical report can be nothing more than a doctors opinion. You would have to prove that the athlete(or their parent,support team) was complicit… Read more »
“It’s more about what’s the impact of your impairment on your ability to do that sport rather than the old medical model of assessment,” and ” I think you need to be cautious about the awarding of permanent classes.”
Well then, someone is going to have a lot of explaining to do with Konkoly of the United States in the S9 class. Her injury doesn’t effect her ability in the water at all, or even the land for that matter, period. I wouldn’t label her existing “ability” as a disability in any way, shape, or form. I see a shakeup with CP cases as well.
Let’s see if the IPC holds true to its word.