Sport class and sport class status - important aspects
There is no rule governing how many times an athlete should be seen by a panel before his/her status is ‘Confirmed’. Although it is the goal for athletes to obtain ‘C’ status so that they can focus 100% on competition, the unique aspects of Paralympic sport may prevent this from happening. It is important for all to understand that the allocation of SPORT CLASS and SPORT CLASS STATUS is a decision at the sole discretion of the International Classification Panel and the International Federation.
The IF has the responsibility of listing all athletes who are competing internationally in a CLASSIFICATION MASTER LIST. This list must have, as a minimum, the name, nationality, gender, sport class and sport class status for each individual athlete. Where applicable ‘fixed review date’ must be added. The IF is responsible to have this Classification Master List available to its membership. Typically this is posted on the IF’s website. The IF is responsible for updating the Classification Master List on a regular basis.
General principles
• It is the IF that will make the classification schedule for each competition on the basis of the information available from the entries to the competition and the IF Classification Master List.
• It is the sport class status that defines protest opportunities as defined by the sport’s classification rules. These may vary by sport, and should be carefully checked. Whilst awaiting the outcome of any protests, the athlete will hold the sport class (status) as defined by the Classification Panel.
• If an athlete is of the view that the allocation of sport class or sport class status has not been done in accordance with the classification rules, the athlete must follow the Protest and Appeal procedures as defined by the sport.
• Athletes with a sport class status of ‘C’ will change to ‘R’ when the International Federation changes the sport class profiles. It is good practice that the IF informs the athletes of any forthcoming rule changes, when the changes will be implemented, and identifies and notifies the athletes upon whom this may have impact.
• In the case of a Protest under Exceptional Circumstances (protest by a Chief Classifier on an athlete who holds ‘C’-status), the athlete’s sport class status will be changed to ‘R’ until the protest has been resolved.
• Athletes who have not been seen by an international classification panel (‘N’ status) will not be eligible to participate in the Paralympic Games (IPC Classification Code – International Standard for Athlete Evaluation – art. 13.2). The IPC Governing Board is entitled to consider exceptions on case-by-case basis (across ALL sports).
The sport rules and classification rules of each sport may specify these allocation procedures in more detail. For example, in some sports the ‘N’ status cannot be applied to the world record holder. Also different rules may apply by sport on the timing of implementation of sport class changes (e.g. after observation in competition).
