Russia’s membership of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was suspended in November
The Russian Paralympic Committee (PRC) has launched a bid to lift the suspension of its membership in the international governing body of the IPC. PRC chairman Pavel Rozhkov said his organization aims to reverse the trend “unequal” attitude towards the athletes of his country.
The IPC suspended the national committees of Russia and Belarus following a vote at an extraordinary general meeting held in Berlin in November.
The international organization accused the PRC and its Belarusian counterpart of having “inability to fulfill one’s membership obligations” in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine.
The membership suspension imposed in November is widely seen as further jeopardizing the chances of Russian and Belarusian para-athletes being cleared for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
PRC Chairman Rozhkov confirmed to TASS on Monday that his organization wants the suspension lifted, at least temporarily, while a broader appeal is heard.
“The decision of the General Assembly of the IPC not only violates rights [of the RPC]but also the rights of athletes… as it deprives them of the right to participate in all IPC events and clearly indicates an unequal attitude towards [Russian and Belarusian] athletes compared to para-athletes from other countries”, Rozhkov said, according to TASS.
“The PRC has filed a motion with the IPC Appellate Tribunal to impose interim measures in the form of suspending the execution of the decision of the IPC Extraordinary General Assembly, pending consideration of an appeal by the PRC.
“If the decision remains in place pending the appeal, the athletes will lose the opportunity to compete, which will prevent them from qualifying for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games or other major events, meaning they will miss out on the entire Paralympic sports season “, Roykov added.
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In March, para-athletes from Russia and Belarus were banned from competing at the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games after the IPC reversed its initial decision to let them compete as neutrals at the last minute.
The current suspension of the membership of Russia and Belarus by the CPR goes beyond the measures imposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The IOC has recommended banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competition, but the two countries’ respective National Olympic Committees have maintained their membership.
At an IOC summit in Switzerland earlier this month, the organization agreed to explore Asian proposals on a potential path back to competition for Russian and Belarusian athletes with neutral status.
The move is seen as a step forward in athletes’ ability to compete in qualifying events for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
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