The U.K.’s former head Paralympics coach has "called for classification of athletes to be removed" from the Int'l Paralympics Committee and handed over to an independent body similar to the World Anti-Doping Agency, according to Diane Taylor of the London GUARDIAN. Peter Eriksson spoke as athletes and coaches revealed "ways that athletes could manipulate classification procedures in order to gain unfair advantage." The issue of classification "continues to generate controversy in the lead up to the Paralympics, which begin on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro." Athletics Canada Parlaympics head coach Eriksson said, "We should have to have full-time professionals doing this. Classification should be independent of the IPC and the sport to take the pressure off the IPC. This would, however, be associated with a huge amount of cost." The classification process has "come under the microscope following claims by athletes and coaches that it can be unfair." They said that methods used by some competitors to "fool the classifiers include claiming to be unable to use certain body parts and muscles, pretending to be less stable and coordinated, and deliberately exhausting themselves prior to assessment so that they temporarily appear less physically capable" (GUARDIAN, 9/6).
'DEVELOPING SCIENCE': The BBC reported IPC President Philip Craven "defended the system that classifies disabled athletes." Tanni Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympic champion, said that the issue "goes to the heart of the integrity of the sport." Craven said that the classification system was "permanently being reviewed." Craven said, "It is a developing system and a developing science." Asked whether there was a "risk" some countries were "too keen" on winning medals, Craven said that he would not "respond to that question." Craven: "All countries are very keen on performing well and performing within the rules" (BBC, 9/6).
