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Sample report. Generated by CLASSCOPE from two public editions of an official rulebook, exactly as an organisation receives it.

New version

Classification Rules and Regulations

Para Athletics · World Para Athletics — 2018 edition→February 2023

At a glance

Review recommended

5 changes in this edition may affect your athletes, staff or procedures.

The 2023 edition adds frame running, with two new Sport Classes, dedicated eligibility criteria and new assessment tests. Frame running athletes may now also compete in seated throwing. A new appendix sets out how athletes whose Vision Impairment may stem from refractive error are handled.

Report of 5 October 2026

Key changes

  1. New frame running Sport Classes

    Sport Classes
    What changed
    The new edition adds frame running to Track Events and introduces two frame running Sport Classes, T71 and T72. It sets out profiles for each, with T72 for athletes who meet frame running criteria but not the T71 criteria.
    Why it may matter CLASSCOPE analysis
    Organisations with athletes using running frames may wish to check whether these classes create new competition pathways for them.

    Source: February 2023, Appendix One · 4. Sport Class Profiles for Athletes with Physical Impairments, page 137 (opens the official PDF) ↗ and 3 more

    Show the official text
    “Athletes in Class T71 generally require physical or powered mobility devices for assistance.”February 2023, Appendix One · 4.1.7.1, page 149
    “Athletes will be eligible for the T72 class if they meet the criteria for frame running Events, but”February 2023, Appendix One · 4.1.7.2, page 153

  2. Separate criteria and tests for frame running

    Athlete Evaluation
    What changed
    Hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis now have separate criteria for frame running only, using new scored assessments. Frame running athletes also complete new tests of selective voluntary motor control and trunk control.
    Why it may matter CLASSCOPE analysis
    It may be worth briefing coaches and athletes on the new tests so they know what Athlete Evaluation for frame running involves.

    Source: February 2023, Appendix One · 2.1.1, page 68 (opens the official PDF) ↗ and 5 more

    Show the official text
    “2. Eligible ONLY for frame running Events”February 2023, Appendix One · 2.1.2, page 76
    “o Selective voluntary motor control test (Section: 3.3.1), AND”February 2023, Appendix One · 3.3, page 126
    “Athletes will be scored out of 18 and this score will be considered by the Classification Panel”February 2023, Appendix One · 3.3.2, page 131

  3. Frame runners may throw seated

    Sport Classes
    What changed
    Athletes still may not stand for track and sit for field, except those in T71 and T72, who compete standing with a running frame and may also compete in seated throwing.
    Why it may matter CLASSCOPE analysis
    Organisations could review event entries and squad planning for frame runners who may also want to compete in seated throwing.

    Source: February 2023, Appendix One · 4. Sport Class Profiles for Athletes with Physical Impairments, page 137 (opens the official PDF) ↗ and 1 more

    Show the official text
    “Events with the aid of a running frame may also compete in seated throwing Events.”February 2023, Appendix One · 4.3.1, page 164
    “field. For example an Athlete may NOT choose a sitting technique for track”Earlier: 2018 edition, Appendix One · 4.3.1, page 137

  4. Bring competition equipment to Technical Assessment

    Sport Classes
    What changed
    The new frame running section states that athletes assessed for other track Events must wear their competition attire and use their competition equipment for Technical Assessment, otherwise they are allocated Classification Not Completed (CNC).
    Why it may matter CLASSCOPE analysis
    Worth checking that athletes attend evaluation with the attire and equipment they use in Competition.

    Source: February 2023, Appendix One · 4.1.7, page 149 (opens the official PDF) ↗

    Show the official text
    “Assessment, the Athlete must wear the same attire and use the same equipment that the”February 2023, Appendix One · 4.1.7, page 149
    “due to the lack of relevant equipment), the Athlete will be allocated Classification Not”February 2023, Appendix One · 4.1.7, page 149

  5. New rules on refractive error

    Eligible Impairments
    What changed
    A new appendix covers classified athletes whose refractive error may have been considered an Underlying Health Condition for Vision Impairment. Pathological changes must be confirmed by medical evidence; otherwise athletes may be allocated Sport Class Not Eligible (NE).
    Why it may matter CLASSCOPE analysis
    Organisations with vision-impaired athletes may want to check whether any are affected and whether their medical documentation is sufficient.

    Source: February 2023, Appendix Five: Refractive Errors Provisions, page 179 (opens the official PDF) ↗ and 3 more

    Show the official text
    “This Appendix sets out provisions for active and internationally classified Athletes in the sport of Para”February 2023, Appendix Five: Refractive Errors Provisions, page 179
    “Medical Review Request will not be accepted and the Athlete will be allocated Sport Class Not”February 2023, Appendix Five · 7.1.2, page 182
    “determination be reviewed by a Classification Panel and will not be permitted to participate in”February 2023, Appendix Five · 6.7.2, page 181

What to review

  • Identify athletes who use running frames and may suit the new classes
  • Brief coaches on new frame running tests and seated throwing option
  • Remind athletes to bring competition attire and equipment to evaluation
  • Review medical documentation for vision-impaired athletes with refractive error

Suggestions from CLASSCOPE, not an official determination.

Everything else

Besides the key changes above, CLASSCOPE found 78 smaller changes of substance. The other 122 changes are editorial: renumbering, cross-references, layout or a few words.

Every section was compared — nothing was skipped

February 2023
619 sections = 433 unchanged + 136 modified + 50 added
2018 edition
598 sections = 433 unchanged + 136 modified + 29 removed

Of the 215 changes, 93 may matter and 122 are editorial: renumbering, cross-references, layout or a few words. A change to a figure, deadline, fee, Sport Class or a word such as must, may or not is never treated as editorial by the automatic rules; 22 more were judged editorial after reviewing their text (mostly scanning noise).