What happens if a para athlete fakes their impairment?
A · Advanced · The process · 2 of 2Intentional misrepresentation is trying to mislead a federation about any part of classification. Examples are forged medical documents, deliberately underperforming in an evaluation or tiring oneself out beforehand to look more impaired. It is an offence under the Code, with its own International Standard; each sport sets sanctions in line with it.
How it works
- Offence: misleading a federation.
- Forged documents: misrepresentation.
- Holding back: misrepresentation.
- Pre-tiring: misrepresentation.
- Any stage: covered.
- Standard: its own International Standard.
- Sanctions: set by each sport.
- Example: CP football, one to four years.
The glossary has the intentional misrepresentation, the observation assessment, the evaluation session, the classification, the international federation and the protest.
Tricky cases
Does it cover support staff?
Yes. Any participant, including those who help another to mislead.
Can it be found from race footage?
Yes, observation can reveal it.
Is underperforming by mistake an offence?
No. It must be intentional.
Who sets the ban length?
Each sport, under the Standard.
Why the rule exists
A class won by deceit takes medals from fairly classified athletes.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Code | K 51.1 |
| Examples | Code | K 51.2 |
| CP football | One to four years | IFCPF C 4 |
From the rule book
IPC, Classification Code and International Standards (1 January 2025), Article 51 and the International Standard for Intentional Misrepresentation. Checked 15 October 2026. Official document: IPC Classification Code 2025.