‘In what world does this make sense?’: Russian Paralympic ban met with confusion online
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has ruled that the Russian Paralympic team will be banned from next month’s games. The decision, which is more severe than that handed to the Olympic team, has divided opinion online.
READ MORE: Official: Russia's Paralympians banned from competing in Rio
“What are the Paralympic committee trying to achieve by banning the Paralympic athletes from their games, can someone tell me?? Disgraceful!” one user tweeted, echoing the sentiments of many that found the decision unjust compared to that received by the Olympic team. Another described it as a “harsh blow” for the team.
What are the Paralympic committee trying to achieve by banning the Paralympic athletes from their games, can someone tell me?? Disgraceful!
— John McBride (@JohnMcBrideIRE) August 7, 2016
Harsh blow for Russian Paralympic team , a blanket ban is unfair for the clean athletes.
— ifs (@ef_ephrahim) August 7, 2016
Some users praised the decision, believing the Paralympic Committee made a decision that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not have the “moral courage” to make.
Well I'm glad the Paralympic Committee has a backbone. There is no room for cheaters!
— Chloe Halloran (@tweet_chlo) August 7, 2016
So Paralympic committee not afraid to make a decision unlike the IOC https://t.co/QWpepaSoeR
— 100MileMan (@AYEARFORHOPE) August 7, 2016
Wow IPC showing the moral courage the IOC lack? No Russian paralympic athletes will be able to compete at the Paralympics in Rio
— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) August 7, 2016
Others were left baffled by the decision, questioning the logic in banning one team but not the other. “In what world does this make sense?” one user asked.
How do you suspend the entire Paralympic team and not the Olympic team? In what world does this make sense? https://t.co/cgpcpO5Irv
— SA Hutchinson (@sambria) August 7, 2016
Punishing the paralympic athletes more harshly than the regular ones.
— Ed© Van Tassell™ (@EdVanTassell) August 7, 2016
Classy. https://t.co/Yokic5cLPr
The ban comes after a recommendation to the IPC from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the same agency that recommended a ban to the IOC. The IOC did not issue a blanket ban on Russia instead giving each individual sporting federation the power to decide.
Statement: The IPC suspends the Russian Paralympic Committee with immediate effect: https://t.co/49iREK4GAs
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 7, 2016
Russia will submit an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following the IPC’s decision, according to the Russian Sports Minister, Vitaly Mutko.
