The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has suspended the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic Federations from membership with immediate effect.
According to the announcement, the reason for this is that the national committees are currently not able to “comply with membership obligations under the IPC Constitution“.
64 members voted to exclude the Russian NPC, the IPC said. 39 members voted against, 16 abstained at the General Assembly on Wednesday (11/16/2022) in Berlin. 54 members (45 votes against, 18 abstentions) voted in favor of excluding the Belarusian Paralympics Association.
Appeal by IPC President Parsons
The Beijing Paralympic Games took place in the spring without Russian and Belarusian athletes because of the Ukraine war, after the IPC had admitted them as neutral athletes under the Paralympic flag before a reversal. This had caused outrage.
“I want us to live in a world where sport unites the world in peaceful competition, allowing athletes to compete against their rivals to the best of their ability in a safe environment‘ said IPC President Andrew Parsons.
appeal possible
The situation of world sport is “explosive and complex. I hope and pray that the conflict in Ukraine will end as soon as possible, peace will be secured and no more innocent lives will be lost or harmed.“
The NPCs from Russia and Belarus can appeal the decision. If an objection is not upheld, only the General Assembly can lift the suspension. The next is scheduled for the last quarter of 2023.