ZURICH: The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced that it will conditionally lift the suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) by 15 March 2019, allowing the country’s para-athletes to participate in world events such as the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Russia had served a 29-month-long period of suspension prior to this but has met 69 of the 70 reinstatement criteria originally outlined by the IPC governing board in November 2016. The only criterion that has not been met is the provision of an official response adequately addressing the findings made by Professor McLaren.
IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “In August 2016 the IPC suspended the RPC because it was necessary and proportionate to the situation we faced and essential to ensure clean sport.
“Twenty-nine months later it is the IPC Governing Board’s firm belief that keeping the RPC suspended is no longer necessary and proportionate to the situation we now face in Russia.
“During its suspension, the RPC has implemented 69 measures which provide the IPC with confidence that it is now a very different organisation to the one that it was prior to Rio 2016. Russian Para athletes are amongst, and will continue to be, the most tested athletes in the Paralympic Movement. Under the supervision of WADA, RUSADA has effectively been rebuilt from the ground up, is back testing and is conditionally reinstated by the global body responsible for it.
“With these factors in mind, maintaining the RPC’s suspension on the grounds of Russia’s continuing refusal to not accept the McLaren Report does not seem right. We need to move things forward and find a solution that protects the integrity of Para sport, acknowledges the significant reforms made by the RPC, and enables the RPC to comply with its membership obligations.”
Russia has implemented a robust testing programme and launched a new anti-doping education programme of its para-athletes under the close supervision of WADA. It hasn’t included any government official in its Paralympic committee.
The country has also been boosted by the reinstatement of the RUSADA (Russian anti-doping national agency) by WADA which has helped in updating and finalising its anti-doping rules.
