Can you challenge a para athlete's class?
A · Advanced · The process · 1 of 2A protest is a formal challenge to an athlete's sport class or status, made by a national federation or the international federation and decided by a protest panel of classifiers. A medical review is a request to look again because the athlete's health has changed; if accepted, the athlete gets Review status at the next opportunity.
How it works
- Protest: challenge to class or status.
- By: national or international federation.
- Decided by: a protest panel.
- Panel: a classification panel for the case.
- Medical review: change in health.
- Accepted review: status R-NAO.
- Athletes: act through their federation.
- Sport rules: set deadlines and fees.
The glossary has the protest, the medical review, the review status, the classifier and classification panel, the sport class status and the international federation.
Tricky cases
Can an athlete protest directly?
Through their national federation.
Can the federation protest its own decision?
Yes, the international federation can.
Is a medical review a protest?
No. It is about changed health.
Who sets protest fees?
Each sport's rules.
Why the rule exists
Protests let errors be put right without reopening every class at every event.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Protest | Panel decides | K 40, 43, 44 |
| Medical review | Health change | K 37 |
| Outcome | Review status | K 37 |
From the rule book
IPC, Classification Code and International Standards (1 January 2025), Articles 37, 40, 43 and 44 and Appendix 1. Checked 15 October 2026. Official document: IPC Classification Code 2025.