Classification glossary.

Classification means (i) the determination of which athletes are eligible to compete in Para sport; and (ii) the grouping of eligible athletes into Sport Classes based on the extent to which their impairment(s) impact(s) their ability to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the relevant sport, further to the process set out in Part IV of Chapter 2.

Underlying Health Condition means a verifiable Health Condition that may lead to an Eligible Impairment catered for by the relevant sport.

Health Condition means a disease (acute or chronic), disorder, injury, or trauma.

Diagnostic Information means medical records and/or any other documentation that enables the International Federation to assess the existence or otherwise of an Underlying Health Condition or Eligible Impairment.

Stage 1: an assessment to verify that the Athlete has (or has had) at least one medically and/or clinically diagnosed Underlying Health Condition, based on a review of Diagnostic Information provided by the Athlete’s National Federation (UHC Assessment).

Eligible Impairment means an impairment that is Permanent and that falls within one of the categories recognised by the Paralympic Movement and approved by the General Assembly, as listed in Article 8.

Any impairment that is not listed as an Eligible Impairment in Article 8 is a ‘Non-Eligible Impairment’.

Stage 2: an assessment to verify (i) that the Athlete has an Eligible Impairment catered for by the sport that is consistent with one or more Underlying Health Conditions reported in the UHC Assessment, and (ii) that there are no inconsistencies with such reported Underlying Health Condition(s) (Eligible Impairment Assessment).

Evaluation Session means stages 2, 3 and 4 of the Classification process, i.e., the Eligible Impairment Assessment, MIC Assessment, and allocation of Sport Class and Sport Class Status, as further defined in Article 5.1.

Minimum Impairment Criteria means the minimum level of impairment resulting from an Eligible Impairment that is required in order for an Athlete to be eligible to participate in a Para sport, as determined by the International Federation in its Classification rules.

Stage 3: an assessment as to whether the Athlete’s Eligible Impairment meets the applicable Minimum Impairment Criteria for that Eligible Impairment within the relevant sport (MIC Assessment).

Classification Panel means a specified number of Classifiers, appointed by an International Federation to conduct Evaluation Sessions and determine an Athlete’s Sport Class and Sport Class Status in accordance with the Classification rules of that International Federation.

Classifier means a person authorised as an official and certified by an International Federation to evaluate Athletes as a member of a Classification Panel.

Sport Class means a category for competition defined by each International Federation in their Classification rules, in which Athletes are categorised by reference to the extent to which their Eligible Impairment(s) impact(s) their ability to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the sport.

Stage 4: the allocation to the Athlete of: (i) a Sport Class based on an assessment of the extent to which the Athlete’s Eligible Impairment(s) impact(s) their ability to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the sport (Sport Class Assessment).

Sport Class Status means a status applied to a Sport Class to indicate whether and when an Athlete may be required to undergo Classification in the future.

Observation Assessment means the observation of an Athlete in Competition by a Classification Panel as part of the Sport Class Assessment so that the Classification Panel can complete its determination regarding the extent to which an Athlete’s Eligible Impairment(s) impact(s) their ability to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the sport.

The Observation Assessment must be conducted in person at the Covered Competition where the Athlete competes in their provisional Sport Class for the first time (First Appearance).

A change in the nature or degree of an Athlete’s Eligible Impairment might mean that a reassessment is required to ensure that the outcome of the Athlete’s previous Classification remains correct (for example, to ensure that an Athlete remains eligible or that the Sport Class allocated to an Athlete remains correct, or to reassess an Athlete previously found to be not eligible). This is known as a ‘Medical Review’.

A ‘Protest’ is a challenge filed against the Sport Class allocated to an Athlete.

Protest Panel means a Classification Panel appointed by the International Federation to conduct an Evaluation Session as a result of a Protest.

An ‘Appeal’ is a challenge to any aspect of a Classification process on the grounds that: (i) there was a breach of the International Federation’s rules during the Classification process; and (ii) that breach could reasonably have caused the Athlete to be incorrectly designated as ‘Not Eligible – Underlying Health Condition’, ‘Not Eligible – Eligible Impairment’, ‘Not Eligible – Minimum Impairment Criteria’, or allocated an incorrect Sport Class and/or Sport Class Status.

International Federations must maintain, publish, and keep up-to-date a ‘Classification Master List’, which must include (at a minimum) specified information regarding each Athlete and any Participant currently suspended by the International Federation for Intentional Misrepresentation.

Adaptive Equipment means any implement, apparatus, and/or technical aid adapted to the special needs of an Athlete to reduce the impact of their impairment(s) and that is permitted by the International Federation’s rules, except that refractive or optical correction (such as eyeglasses or corrective lenses) are not considered to be Adaptive Equipment.

Permanent means an impairment that is unlikely to be resolved, meaning that the principal effects are lifelong.

The following constitutes Intentional Misrepresentation: (1) a Participant, at any time, whether by act or omission, intentionally misleads or attempts to mislead an International Federation or any of its representatives (such as Classification Personnel) in relation to any aspect of Classification; or (2) a Participant, at any time, whether by act or omission, engages in any type of intentional complicity in respect of any violation or attempted violation of Article 51.1.1 or a period of ineligibility imposed on another Participant pursuant to Article 8.2.3 of the International Standard for Intentional Misrepresentation.