Russians and Belarusians on the Winter Paralympics in Beijing will compete as “neutral athletes” due to their international locations’ roles within the warfare towards Ukraine, the International Paralympic Committee stated Wednesday.
Russian athletes had already been slated to compete as RPC, quick for Russian Paralympic Committee, as punishment for the state-sponsored doping scandal on the 2014 Sochi Olympics and a subsequent cover-up.
The IPC added extra restrictions when the Paralympics open on Friday, however stopped wanting expulsion. Belarus was sanctioned for its half in aiding Russia with the invasion and warfare towards Ukraine.
Both delegations shall be excluded from the medal desk, and the IPC stated it might not maintain occasions in both nation “while the present situation continues.”
IPC assertion on the RPC and NPC Belarus participation on the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. https://t.co/Y5yimQ3MN7
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) March 2, 2022
“What we have decided upon is the harshest possible punishment we can hand down within our constitution and the current IPC rules,” IPC President Andrew Parsons stated in an announcement. “In deciding what actions the IPC should take, it was fundamental that we worked within the framework of our new constitution to remain politically neutral and within the IPC Handbook, the rules and regulations that govern the Paralympic Movement.”
The International Olympic Committee on Monday pushed sports activities our bodies to exclude Russian athletes from worldwide occasions, but it surely left the ultimate resolution to particular person governing our bodies. The IOC has been gradual to crack down on Russia, permitting its athletes to compete within the final 4 Olympics following Sochi.
The IOC stated the motion was wanted now to “protect the integrity of global sports competitions and for the safety of all the participants” however left sports activities our bodies with a method across the exclusion by including that Russians and Belarusians may compete as impartial athletes or groups if Expulsion was not potential due to quick discover.
The transfer by the IPC comes as Russia is being barred from competing in an extended listing of sports activities together with ice skating, snowboarding, soccer, hockey, basketball, monitor and subject, and a few tennis occasions. Some sports activities like swimming have not adopted the advice from the IOC to ban Russians, as an alternative permitting them to compete as impartial athletes.
Parsons acknowledged the chance that some Paralympic athletes would possibly refuse to compete towards their counterparts from Russia. He additionally had stated the choices for the IPC have been “limited” due to the potential for authorized challenges from Russia or elsewhere.
IOC President Thomas Bach is not going to attend the Paralympics and has designated Parsons — an IOC member — to signify the physique. IOC vp Ser Miang Ng was to attend, however has examined constructive for COVID-19. The IOC stated Ng had solely delicate signs.
Paralympic officers say 648 athletes and 49 delegations will participate within the Winter Paralympics. There have been 2,900 athletes ultimately month’s Winter Olympics with 91 delegations.
Officials say 71 Russian athletes are anticipated to compete within the Paralympics, joined by 20 from Ukraine. The whole Ukrainian delegation was anticipated to reach in time for Friday’s opening ceremony. The Paralympics shut March 13.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
