{"id":1599049,"date":"2018-10-11T12:45:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T12:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"urn:bbc:podcast:p06njzcy"},"modified":"2018-10-11T12:45:00","modified_gmt":"2018-10-11T12:45:00","slug":"paralympics-gaming-the-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2018\/10\/11\/paralympics-gaming-the-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Paralympics \u2013 Gaming the System?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Last year, Assignment investigated whether some athletes and coaches game the Paralympic classification system in order to win medals. <\/p>
We heard allegations that some competitors had gone to astonishing lengths such as taping up their arms to make their disability appear worse. A parliamentary select committee hearing looked into the way British Paralympic athletes are classified and questions were raised over whether the system was fit for purpose. <\/p>
In this programme, we examine fresh claims of athletes exaggerating or even faking a disability to get ahead in para sports. We look at the case of an athlete where concerns have been raised after they competed in several different disability classifications. <\/p>
A Paralympic gold medallist tells Assignment that he believes that gaming the system in para sports is at a similar level to cheating in able bodied sports and reveals the tell-tale signs that athletes may be trying to get into an easier classification.<\/p>
Reporter Simon Cox speaks to a former international classifier \u2013 the people responsible for ensuring athletes are placed in the right category \u2013 who reveals how it is possible for classifiers to be fooled. <\/p>
But the head of the British Paralympic Association says he does not believe cheating happens at any meaningful level. <\/p>
The concerns raised by the programme come as a report by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee into sports governance which has examined classification in para sports is due to be published in the UK.<\/p>
(Image: Paralympic Games Gold medal. Credit: Press Association)<\/p>\n