The Documentary Podcast

Paralympics – Gaming the System?


Listen Later

Last year, Assignment investigated whether some athletes and coaches game the Paralympic classification system in order to win medals.

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.

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.

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.

Reporter Simon Cox speaks to a former international classifier – the people responsible for ensuring athletes are placed in the right category – who reveals how it is possible for classifiers to be fooled.

But the head of the British Paralympic Association says he does not believe cheating happens at any meaningful level.

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.

(Image: Paralympic Games Gold medal. Credit: Press Association)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Documentary PodcastBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

1,607 ratings


More shows like The Documentary Podcast

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,810 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

376 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,069 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,517 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

962 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

590 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,871 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,065 Listeners

The Interview by BBC World Service

The Interview

356 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

600 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

974 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

410 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

414 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

738 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

842 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

364 Listeners

Today in Focus by The Guardian

Today in Focus

1,033 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,208 Listeners

The Missing Cryptoqueen by BBC Sounds

The Missing Cryptoqueen

1,071 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

780 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,042 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

372 Listeners