Leader Of Spain's Fraudulent Participation In '00 Sydney Paralympics Fined $7,330

Former Spanish Sports Federation for the Intellectually Disabled (FEDDI) President Fernando Martin Vicente is "the only person among the 19 accused in the 'false paralympics' case to have been punished, while charges were withdrawn for each of the others," according to the EFE. Vicente was fined €5,400 ($7,330). The case "was brought against 19 FEDDI members and the Spanish basketball team that won Gold at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games even though only two of the team's 12 players had a disability." The decision was "expected to take four days, but an agreement was reached for Vicente to take responsibility for all accused." The "prosecutors had initially asked for two years for everyone that was accused, but finally agreed to punish only Vicente." After it "became known that many of the players on the Spanish basketball team were not disabled, the Spanish Paralympic Committee withdrew the players' medals and opened an investigation" (EFE, 10/7).