In the Case of Brazilian Para Swimmer André Brasil

Global Athlete calls on the International Paralympic Committee and the World Para Swimming to Immediately Revoke Paralympic Athlete Disqualifications Resulting from Mid-Cycle Rule Changes

1 March 2021: For over 16 years, 14-time Paralympic medalist André Brasil has competed at the 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Paralympic Games. Suddenly, in the middle of a Tokyo Paralympic cycle he has been told he is no longer an eligible athlete. 

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and World Para Swimming (WPS) classification changes made in the middle of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Cycle emphatically undermine the human rights of every para swimmer. This unilateral decision by the IPC to change classification rules without due consideration of the impact on athletes’ lives is a gross abdication of its duty to protect the human rights of athletes. Specifically, such rule changes are a clear violation of the athletes’ freedom of profession and the right not to be discriminated against.

Global Athlete is in full support of André Brasil’s proceedings against the IPC and WPS requesting to annul his classification and to implement at least a transitional period for the new classification rules to come into place following the Tokyo Paralympic Games, allowing all Para Swimming athletes who used to be eligible under the old rules the right to compete. The IPC has granted wheelchair tennis athletes this transitional period; para swimming athletes must be afforded the same.

The Paralympics cannot claim to be a celebration of humanity while at the same time treat athletes inhumanely. Human rights are athlete rights.