IPC Suspends Russian, Belarusian Committees with Immediate Effect

The International Paralympic Committee voted to suspend the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Russia and Belarus with immediate effect, placing their para-athletes’ hopes of competing at the 2024 Paralympics in jeopardy.

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More About The Development:

Athletes from the two countries had previously been barred from competing in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics in March over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus has been a staging area. Russia’s suspension was passed by 64 votes to 39, with 16 abstentions, at the IPC’s extraordinary General Assembly in Berlin. The suspension of Belarus’ NPC passed 54-45, with 18 abstentions.

What Has Been Said:

“Due to their suspension, NPC Russia and NPC Belarus lose all rights and privileges of IPC membership, in accordance with the IPC Constitution,” the IPC said in a statement.

“Both NPC Russia and NPC Belarus now have the right to appeal the decision. “Should any appeal not be upheld then only the General Assembly can revoke the suspension. The next IPC General Assembly is due to take place in the final quarter of 2023 at a venue yet to be confirmed.”

IPC President Andrew Parsons said the NPCs of Russia and Belarus had been allowed to address the General Assembly and present their case prior to the vote.

Consequences Of This Move:

As a result of the suspension, Russia and Belarus cannot enter their athletes into World Para Sport events. Both NPCs have the right to appeal. Should any appeal not be upheld, only the IPC General Assembly can revoke the suspension.

Qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Games are scheduled to take place throughout 2023 and 2024. The IPC said that it could not speculate on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at Paris 2024.

About IPC:

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) – the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement – was founded on 22 September 1989 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The IPC replaced the original governing body for the Paralympic Movement known as the International Co-ordination Committee of World Sports Organizations for the Disabled (ICC).  The ICC was established in 1982 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who realised that with the Paralympic Movement rapidly growing, the need for a single governing body to look after parasport was imperative.The IPC is currently run by around 162 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from five regions and four disability specific international sports federations (IOSDs).

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