BPA response to IPC's reinstatement of NPC Russia

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Friday (8 February) that it will conditionally lift the suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) by 15 March 2019.

The decision to reinstate the RPC’s IPC membership under strict conditions was taken by the IPC Governing Board after the RPC served a 29-month-long period of suspension and met 69 of the 70 reinstatement criteria originally outlined by the IPC in November 2016.

Read the full IPC statement by clicking here.

The British Paralympic Association’s response to the conditional reinstatement of the Russian Paralympic Committee by the IPC:

It is crucial for the integrity of Paralympic sport that all necessary measures are in place to tackle doping and that the principles of clean sport are upheld. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have taken a clear and firm stance since 2016 and the publication of the McLaren report which revealed evidence of widespread doping including Paralympic athletes.

Due to NPC Russia’s suspension from membership of the IPC, Russian athletes have been unable to compete in two Paralympic Games and in the nine IPC-run sports since 2016. We think it is right that everything is done to allow clean Russian athletes to compete.

We would like to see Russian athletes compete at Tokyo 2020 and the route to qualification for those athletes starts now. However, if WADA’s findings at any point suggest that RUSADA is not compliant then sufficient action should be taken once again. We support the IPC in their approach and leadership in this area and look forward to welcoming clean Russian athletes back to the Paralympic movement.