IWAS Classification Appeal Panel for Wheelchair Fencing

IMPORTANT INFORMATION   

The IWAS Classification Appeal Panel announces that two appeals in respect to Wheelchair Fencing have recently been dealt with and outcomes have been notified to the countries (Appellant Parties) and Head of Classification/HQ sport procedural (Opposing Party) for their information and action.

During this activity, the Appeal Panel identified the need for a new policy to be implemented by HQ and IWAS Wheelchair Fencing, a review of rules, regulations and procedures to be undertaken by Secretary General of IWAS and activities to be jointly undertaken by IWAS HQ/Head of Classification in terms of education and information related to the nations.
 

New Policy:
THAT THERE BE NO REVIEW AND RE-CLASSIFICATION EXERCISES UNDERTAKEN BY SPORTS CLASSIFICATION COMMISSIONS DURING THE PARALYMPIC QUALIFICATION PERIODS FOR IWAS SPORTS ON THE PARALYMPIC PROGRAMME.
RATIONALE:  

• THERE IS SUFFICIENT TIME OUTSIDE OF THE DATES OF THE QUALIFICATION PERIOD FOR   ATHLETES TO BE CLASSIFIED. 
• RE-CLASSIFICATION DURING THE QUALIFICATION PERIOD HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT TO ATHLETES WITH PARALYMPIC GAMES PARTICIPATION OBJECTIVES, IRRESPECTIVE OF OUTCOME
• IF CLASS IS CHANGED, THE ATHLETE LOSES RANKING POINTS SO FAR GAINED DURING THE PERIOD
• TO FOCUS AND IMPROVE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION EXERCISES SO THAT ATHLETES DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CONFIRMED STATUS DURING THEIR CAREERS.
• TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCY WITH IPC CLASSIFICATION CODE

Regarding Regulations and Procedures for Appeal – the Secretary General IWAS has reviewed the Regulations and Procedures in respect to IPC Classification Code compliancy, and also the means and manner in which IWAS Executive Board can deal with Classification Appeals in the current context.  The newly reviewed Regulations and Procedures are attached for your information and will be part of IWAS publications in respect to the Federation on the website (Handbook).

Instruction has been passed to IWAS HQ and Head of Classifications in each of IWAS Sports and the following has been advised by the Panel and will be circulated both to IWAS Sports as a principled policy and included in internal procedures as an available document.

The Panel directs the Head of Classification and IWAS HQ to develop a procedural information pack and/or simple visual flow chart related to classification, protests and appeals, so that everything is very clear to the Nations whether they are protesting or appealing.  This should be made available on the website and from HQ on request.

Additionally, the Panel would like to see that all classifier training and accreditation packages include documentation and information related to procedures for all classifiers to follow in respect to protests and appeals, including related forms to complete etc.

Maura Strange – Secretary General